Friday, October 30, 2009
zirconia & flat rock
After being cooped up in the house for several weeks I was finally able to take the boys to an orchard. It wasn't an ideal day because it was very overcast, but at least it wasn't raining...yet. We picked up some Gala apples to enjoy. Evan was all over the apple cider donut and cider slushy. We then made our way over to Flat Rock where Carl Sanburg's home is. It was so beautiful, but we weren't able to walk up to the house and farm because it was pretty rough terrain for a stroller to handle. We enjoyed walking around the lake, and seeing all the beautiful trees.
Friday, October 23, 2009
the sickies
As some of you may know we have been battling colds for the last two week. After another trip to the doctor today it looks like things will hopefully begin to settle down. One wants to be outdoors to enjoy the beauty of Fall, but we haven't been able too. I am hoping to finally get up to the orchard in Flat Rock this weekend with Grandpa and Grandma Ticola who are arriving tomorrow. Hope to have pictures to post next time I blog.
Evan has been very clingy to me. I guess since I have been spending more time with him since he has been sick. Bedtime is a sweet time. We read books, and then sing songs to God. Joel now has three teeth! Two on the bottom and one on the top. I don't know the letters...sorry dental folks.
As for me I am reading "New Moon", and I am trying to make plans to go see Twilight when it comes out. Matt is leaving next week for a couple days in Miami. He has an interview at Miami Children's Hospital with the Nova University Pediatric Dental program. Wish him luck!
Evan has been very clingy to me. I guess since I have been spending more time with him since he has been sick. Bedtime is a sweet time. We read books, and then sing songs to God. Joel now has three teeth! Two on the bottom and one on the top. I don't know the letters...sorry dental folks.
As for me I am reading "New Moon", and I am trying to make plans to go see Twilight when it comes out. Matt is leaving next week for a couple days in Miami. He has an interview at Miami Children's Hospital with the Nova University Pediatric Dental program. Wish him luck!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
A homecoming
We are finally home and getting into the routine of things again after a whirlwind trip down to Florida for UF homecoming. Evan is back at Mothers Morning Out after missing it for a week and a half from having a cold.
Our trip went by so fast! We hardly had time to spend with our family and friends, but I am so thankful that we have been able to see them every couple of months.
Wendy and I took Aidan and Evan to Sun Country Sports center on Friday for free play. Matt stayed home with Joel as he took his nap. Watching Aidan and Evan interact is so much fun. Evan loves to mimic his older cousin (24 days older). We were able to meet up with Eric and Tricia who were also in town at on of our favorite haunts, Las Margaritas Mexican restaurant. We all went to the mall where we shopped for Gator gear. Let me just tell you how big Lauren has gotten. She's growning like a weed. Her skin is so soft, like a girl :) The game was a lot of fun and I am so thankful that I had a chance to go this year. Evan and Joel were having a wonderful time with their favorite people, their Mima and Pipo. Evan instantly lit up when he saw my parents who met us at Panera that morning to pick them up. The morning we left we were able to join Mark, Wendy, Aidan, Paige and Jeremy at Cracker Barrel for breakfast. We had a really nice time, and we beat the rush too. Now we are getting ready for Grandpa and Grandma Ticola's visit this coming weekend.
Our trip went by so fast! We hardly had time to spend with our family and friends, but I am so thankful that we have been able to see them every couple of months.
Wendy and I took Aidan and Evan to Sun Country Sports center on Friday for free play. Matt stayed home with Joel as he took his nap. Watching Aidan and Evan interact is so much fun. Evan loves to mimic his older cousin (24 days older). We were able to meet up with Eric and Tricia who were also in town at on of our favorite haunts, Las Margaritas Mexican restaurant. We all went to the mall where we shopped for Gator gear. Let me just tell you how big Lauren has gotten. She's growning like a weed. Her skin is so soft, like a girl :) The game was a lot of fun and I am so thankful that I had a chance to go this year. Evan and Joel were having a wonderful time with their favorite people, their Mima and Pipo. Evan instantly lit up when he saw my parents who met us at Panera that morning to pick them up. The morning we left we were able to join Mark, Wendy, Aidan, Paige and Jeremy at Cracker Barrel for breakfast. We had a really nice time, and we beat the rush too. Now we are getting ready for Grandpa and Grandma Ticola's visit this coming weekend.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
got the clear
don't freak out if you hear music playing on our page. i have been waiting for the opportunity to place music on our page and i finally found the tool to do it! let it roll through the songs, or choose the ones you would like to hear.
so we got the clear to go down to florida this weekend for the university of florida homecoming. the doctor seems to think that they have your basic cold which isn't contagious. it has been rainy and in the 50s here, and in florida it's been in the high 80s, so i am hoping that the temperature change will not make us more sick when it is time to come home. we are looking forward to seeing as many family and friends as we can squeeze into the visit, and of course watching our gators win on saturday...thank you eric and tricia for that!
so we got the clear to go down to florida this weekend for the university of florida homecoming. the doctor seems to think that they have your basic cold which isn't contagious. it has been rainy and in the 50s here, and in florida it's been in the high 80s, so i am hoping that the temperature change will not make us more sick when it is time to come home. we are looking forward to seeing as many family and friends as we can squeeze into the visit, and of course watching our gators win on saturday...thank you eric and tricia for that!
Friday, October 9, 2009
evan's portraits too
Follow the link below to see Evan's photos from our August 23 session in Gainesville.
Evan's 2 year shoot
it is the same link as Joel's baptism photos. Just scroll all the way down.
Evan's 2 year shoot
it is the same link as Joel's baptism photos. Just scroll all the way down.
birthday wishes
Happy Birthday wishes go out to cousin Nicolas this week. Our weekend is shot since Evan is so sick. Who knew so much gunk could come out of his poor little nose. He is beginning to resemble Rudolph.
from peace to crankiness
Last weekend Matt and I had an amazing getaway to Lake Lure, N.C. It was an hour and a half away, so it wasn't too far to be from home in case we had to return quickly. Luckily things went just fine at home thanks to Pipo and Mima's care. The boys loved spending that quality time with their grandparents, and I know that times like those is what they will remember.
Lake Lure was the perfect laid back getaway that we craved. It has been exactly a week since we left. We arrived around 11 a.m. to Chimney Rock, N.C. where we hiked two trails together. Matt continued hiking some more difficult trails. It was early still so no one was really there yet. We then had lunch at the top of the mountain. Nothing fancy just sandwiches, but the view was spectacular. We stayed till around 2:00 p.m. and then left to check in the lodge. It is as picturesque as it gets. We were on a budget so our room didn't have a view of the lake, but it did have a view of the front of the lodge which is surrounded by a sweet garden. It looked very european. I loved having the windows open, so it was hard to keep in mind that it was also the front of the lodge. Even though we were beat from hiking that day, we immediately headed down to check out the lake. We saw the boat house with the canoes and went out on the lake. Florida lakes are like mudpits with alligators in them and miserable heat! No mudpit here. It was so peaceful and relaxing. The views from the water were inspiring. We headed back to the room to relax and take a nap. Unfortunantly we slept through the happy hour at the lodge. Then we enjoyed a romantic dinner at Larkin's on the Lake. It is a sister restaurant to Greenville's Larkin's on the River. After a breakfast of make to order omletes we headed out for an 11 a.m. trail ride at Cedar Creek stables. It was great to get out on the land on horseback. My horse's name was "Tiger Woods", but he went by "Tiger", and Matt's horse was "Jack". The trail ride went up a mountain ridge as we rode through the woods. The day was sunny and cool. Later we got lunch at a restaurant in Chimney where they were having free tastings (full slices) of their signature cakes which they make for CISCO. Free dessert can't be beat! We shopped a little while we were at town. I found a fabulous deal on Merril hiking shoes. They were almost half off cause they were the Spring line. If you haven't tried Merril shoes, do! They are the most comfortable sneakers I have ever owned, and I am kind of a sneaker junky. We headed back to the lodge for a nap, and this time we did wake up in time for happy hour. Let me just tell you that the treatment from the staff at the lodge was "Ritz" quality. They went out of their way to make you comfortable and to pamper their guests. We had a great dinner at Strata's Italian restaurant in Lake Lure right across from the public beach there. Later we went for icecream in Chimney, but by 9 p.m. everything closed down, so we were off to the lodge. We relaxed with baked goodies that they had there every night while we watched television in their den. We were so relaxed that we almost forgot it wasn't a home. Fireplace going, baked goodies, cozy lodgelike room, big screen tv, and comfy couch...are you getting the picture? The next morning we enjoyed the french toast and eggs benedict in front of the spectacular view of Lake Lure. We took our time leaving, and as we said our goodbyes the staff were all there to see us off. Along the way home there were tons of apple orchards. Hendersonville, N.C. is the apple capital of North Carolina. We stopped at one and bought apples to bring home. They were HUGE!
I am so blessed to be at home with my children while they are young. It is when you are away from them that you realize most what examples they are of GOD's pure love.
This week poor Evan has been sick with a cough and runny nose, and so he had to miss his school. Joel is teething so he hasn't been sleeping through the night! At least I got rest last week in order to function this week!
I have to share these photos of the boys playing outside in the afternoon on September 30th. It was their first time in the wagon together.
Lake Lure was the perfect laid back getaway that we craved. It has been exactly a week since we left. We arrived around 11 a.m. to Chimney Rock, N.C. where we hiked two trails together. Matt continued hiking some more difficult trails. It was early still so no one was really there yet. We then had lunch at the top of the mountain. Nothing fancy just sandwiches, but the view was spectacular. We stayed till around 2:00 p.m. and then left to check in the lodge. It is as picturesque as it gets. We were on a budget so our room didn't have a view of the lake, but it did have a view of the front of the lodge which is surrounded by a sweet garden. It looked very european. I loved having the windows open, so it was hard to keep in mind that it was also the front of the lodge. Even though we were beat from hiking that day, we immediately headed down to check out the lake. We saw the boat house with the canoes and went out on the lake. Florida lakes are like mudpits with alligators in them and miserable heat! No mudpit here. It was so peaceful and relaxing. The views from the water were inspiring. We headed back to the room to relax and take a nap. Unfortunantly we slept through the happy hour at the lodge. Then we enjoyed a romantic dinner at Larkin's on the Lake. It is a sister restaurant to Greenville's Larkin's on the River. After a breakfast of make to order omletes we headed out for an 11 a.m. trail ride at Cedar Creek stables. It was great to get out on the land on horseback. My horse's name was "Tiger Woods", but he went by "Tiger", and Matt's horse was "Jack". The trail ride went up a mountain ridge as we rode through the woods. The day was sunny and cool. Later we got lunch at a restaurant in Chimney where they were having free tastings (full slices) of their signature cakes which they make for CISCO. Free dessert can't be beat! We shopped a little while we were at town. I found a fabulous deal on Merril hiking shoes. They were almost half off cause they were the Spring line. If you haven't tried Merril shoes, do! They are the most comfortable sneakers I have ever owned, and I am kind of a sneaker junky. We headed back to the lodge for a nap, and this time we did wake up in time for happy hour. Let me just tell you that the treatment from the staff at the lodge was "Ritz" quality. They went out of their way to make you comfortable and to pamper their guests. We had a great dinner at Strata's Italian restaurant in Lake Lure right across from the public beach there. Later we went for icecream in Chimney, but by 9 p.m. everything closed down, so we were off to the lodge. We relaxed with baked goodies that they had there every night while we watched television in their den. We were so relaxed that we almost forgot it wasn't a home. Fireplace going, baked goodies, cozy lodgelike room, big screen tv, and comfy couch...are you getting the picture? The next morning we enjoyed the french toast and eggs benedict in front of the spectacular view of Lake Lure. We took our time leaving, and as we said our goodbyes the staff were all there to see us off. Along the way home there were tons of apple orchards. Hendersonville, N.C. is the apple capital of North Carolina. We stopped at one and bought apples to bring home. They were HUGE!
I am so blessed to be at home with my children while they are young. It is when you are away from them that you realize most what examples they are of GOD's pure love.
This week poor Evan has been sick with a cough and runny nose, and so he had to miss his school. Joel is teething so he hasn't been sleeping through the night! At least I got rest last week in order to function this week!
I have to share these photos of the boys playing outside in the afternoon on September 30th. It was their first time in the wagon together.
Friday, September 25, 2009
brotherly love
Evan feeding Joel for the first time last week. Joel didn't mind one bit!
And this week we caught the two of them interacting. Now that Joel is standing up in his play yard he is eye to eye with his brother. I am sure that they won't always be eye to eye on everything. hehehe! Manina, do you recognize Evan's jammies? They still fit him.
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