Happy Valentines Day!!

It was a heart shaped dinner!! 

Skiing

While we were out of town, Diego and Alessandro went to a ski school with some of their cousins.  It sounded like it was a ton of fun.  The boys keep begging to go skiing again.  They had a great time. 

Carter, Diego, Cody, Alessandro, Caitlin, Ashlyn

Alessandro 

Diego, Cody, Carter 

Caitlin, Jamie, Alessandro, Matt (At least that's who I think is in this picture.  Jamie sent these to me and this one is hard to tell except for Alessandro and Matt so I hope I'm right!!  Actually, looking closer, I'm guessing the yellow jacket is a teacher because someone behind them has the same jacket.)  :)

Happy 5th Birthday!!

Luca turned 5 on January 29th!  Soo crazy!  We were still out of town on his actual birthday, but luckily Grandma and Grandpa were watching him and made sure he had a special day.  And then he got to have another special day 2 days later when we got back, so it was a nice extended birthday for him. 

Luca is a funny little boy.  He is loving preschool and often wishes he could go more than he does.  He can write his first name and I think it sounds so cute when he says his last name.  He loves playing soccer and loves swimming.  He loves the computer or any other video game.  And he also loves playing with his siblings.  Whether it's wrestling around with the older boys or playing house with Mia.  Diego actually commented to me that he was worried about Luca because he is always playing "girl" things with Mia like house.  haha It cracked me up.  It just so happens that the sibling closest in age is a girl, so he enjoys both boy things and also playing girl things.  The best of both worlds.  ;)  He still wants to be wherever I am, he follows me around the house all day.  If I'm upstairs, he's right with me or if I have to run downstairs fast to grab something, he has to follow as well.  He is a very sensitive boy.  Not just towards himself, but for others as well.  He worries about others and their well being.  We joke that he is going to be a big teddy bear when he gets older.  He'll be big enough to look like he can protect Mia, but when it comes down to it, he can't hurt a fly.  :)  He's my first child that is actually a normal height or a little taller than average.  He is 44inches (in the 75%) and he weighs 38lbs (25%).  He's a fun little boy and we are so happy to have him in our family.  I just wish these kids would stop getting so old so fast!!  We love you little man!!  Happy Happy Birthday!!!

Cuddle Bug

I love how Mia will just come and cuddle with us while watching tv.

Soo RELAXING!!!!

At the end of January Udine had a business trip in Miami that he had to go to.  And since we had enough points from our frequent flier miles for a free ticket I asked if I could go too.  I knew I'd want some sun come the end of January.  I can honestly say I have never had a trip like this before.  It was soo amazing!  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE traveling with my kids, but it's not necessarily relaxing, and that's what this trip was all about.  Udine would be in meetings during the day, so I'd go hang by the pool and read.  To some that may sound boring, but I love the sun and I love to read, so it was a little piece of heaven on earth.  I can't remember the last time I was able to just sit and read without a hundred interruptions.  It was heavenly.  The hotel we stayed at was nicer than any hotel we could afford, and since work covered that expense it was so nice to be able to enjoy that too.  The first day I went to the pool I was a little uncomfortable because I'm not used to having a pool boy who will set up your towls for you and see if there is anything you need, etc.  But after the initial shock, it was all good.  The pool area was absolutely beautiful!!  And speaking of beautiful....the weather!!  It was perfect.  Not too hot, but with a little breeze to cool you off now and then.  Normally I am not a fan of humidity, but it wasn't so muggy that I couldn't stand it, it was just perfect...my skin felt moist for a whole week!  haha  Now it's dry and itching again.  ugh. One of Udine's coworkers wife came also, so that was a fun chance to get to know her better also.  I have never met anyone that gets lost as easily as I do, but she is just like me!  It was hilarious.  We'd get lost on the simplest outings during the day. 

We arrived on a monday night and the boys had to go to a business dinner so Marianne and I walked around the city for a bit looking for a good place to eat. We came across this Italian Restaurant called Fratelli Milano which I had read about and wanted to try so we went in. Boy am I glad we did!!! That was THE BEST Italian food I have ever eaten!! So good infact that we took the boys the very next night and also went back on our last night there. Even Udine really enjoyed it and he doesn't normally like Italian food. I enjoy the Olive Garden, but after eating this food, the Olive Garden doesn't seem too appetizing anymore. Mmm I wish I could have some right now!!

Udine's pizza, my lasagna...best I've ever had!!

Cream puffs: I'd eat the top half because Udine doesn't like chocolate and he'd eat the bottom half cuz he likes cream puffs. :) It's not very often you find a dessert we both can enjoy.

Our 3rd night there we decided we didn't want an expensive dinner and since Pollo Compero (one of Udine's favorite restaurants from Guatemala) was just 3 miles away, we decided we'd walk. Man, 3 miles didn't seem too bad, but once we got walking and it started getting dark, it seemed really far! It seemed to take forever and my feet were starting to hurt! Plus Udine was starting to get worried because the further we walked from the hotel, the sketchier the neighborhoods were getting. So he started stashing his cash in different pockets and hiding his phone, etc. It was kind of funny. Needless to say, we finally got there and Udine got to enjoy his beloved chicken. In hind site, I'd spend the money on a cab and not be so cheap, but it was a fun experience and something we will always laugh about. This is not the first time we have done something stupid like this, we never seem to learn our lesson....it's a typical move for us. haha We just laughed and laughed about it. Who else would leave the luxuries of where we were staying and be so cheap they'd have to walk (not take a cab) to go get a fast food chicken. hahaha Only us. Although, I have to say, if it had been a Kopp's Custard that close to where I was staying I'd totally want to do the same thing cuz I never get it. :) Anyway, good memories.

Friday morning was the last of Udine's classes so we booked a little 3 day cruise, so we headed to the port which was right near where we were staying. We went on the Carnival Imagination and it was a great time. I'm not sure what I expected but I'm glad we went on a short and really inexpensive one for our first cruise because I kind of feel like it was a learning experience for us. We know of some things we'd do differently, but we still had a wonderful time. We went to some comedy shows, dance shows, watched a little karioke, wandered the ship, enjoyed the work out room and the beautiful weather. 

On Saturday we hit port in Nassau, Bahamas and walked around for a while. We walked to these stairs that they call The Queens Staircase and got a little history behind that from a local. After that we went to Atlantas to hang out at the beach for the afternoon. Soo nice. The water was colder than I had expected so I didn't get in past my knees, but once Udine finally made his way in, he loved just staying in the water. After that we walked around the little mart there and enjoyed looking at all the handcrafted things the locals were selling. I wanted to get my hair braided, I've always thought that would be fun to do, but once I saw the price, I decided it wouldn't be that fun. haha :)

The water was so beautiful, clear and blue

Sunday was spent on the boat and we just enjoyed the sun again. It was a wonderful time. I was expecting a lot more from the food because that's what everyone talked about before we went, but I thought it was ok. It was good, but not as excellent as I was thinking it would be. It was always available, but nothing really stood out too much to me. All in all, it was a wonderful week! I loved every minute of it, but I was so ready to see my kids after it. It rejuvinated me, I kind of wish I could do that every year!!

Failed

One of our goals for this year was to not have so many medical bills because every year they seem to just pile up!!  Unfortunately on January 19th we realized that was a stupid goal because you really can't help what happens to you or someone else in the family.  So I am sad to say, we are not off to a good start this year...yet again.  Diego was playing tag at recess and was running up equipment when he slipped and fell and his chin slammed on a bar which split his chin open.  The Dr. office didn't have any appointments available so we had to go to the instacare for him to get stitches.  The poor guy is terrified of needles so he was freaking out the whole time we were waiting, but was happy in the end since it wasn't nearly as bad as he was anticipating.  Three days later he woke up and gunk was just oozing out.  So we had to take him back to the instacare, but it was a Sunday and was closed so we had to take him to a different one.  Which causes all kinds of fun with insurance.  ugh.  Anyway, he got it cleaned out and got some meds to take and also to put on it.  When he had to have them taken out both Udine and I were out of town so my sister-in-law took him for us.  That night, we was wrestling his cousin and got an elbow or a knee..not exactly sure which or both, but it split open again.  The next day Jamie took him back to the Dr to make sure everything was ok.  I think they just taped it back up for him.  Oh the joys.  I actually felt really bad that I wasn't there to help him out when he was getting them out; i know he was really nervous about it.  But I'm grateful Jamie was more than willing to do it.

I have pictures on my phone of his cut, but for some reason I can't download them to the computer.  If I can figure it out what is going on I'll post them later.

Fun stuff

Alessandro got "Just Dance" for the Wii on his birthday so we decided to give it a try.  It is quite a workout!  It was a lot of fun, specially seeing Udine and Jeremy really getting into it :)

Finally!!!

At the new year I decided it was time for Mia to learn to use the bathroom.  She was plenty old and it was well over due.  She was just being stubborn about it, so I was adamant that she was going to learn.  So that first week of January was one of the longest weeks ever!!!  After about 4 days of never actually going in the toilet, just doing it in her pants minutes after getting off, I was finally fed up and just made her sit there until she peed.  She was screaming, but as soon as it happened it was like something clicked and she realized what was suppose to happen.  It was a wonderful turning point!!!  From there on out she was great!!  Well, not great.  She had to get over her fear of public toilets (which can you really blame her) and also her fear of other people's toilets.  Which actually took a while.  We went to ID to visit my aunt and uncle for a weekend and that is finally what taught her toilets other than our own are ok.  :)  Since then, she has been doing great and it is so strange not to have a child in diapers!!  I don't have to carry a diaper bag around anymore, it's so nice!!  Although, I do miss always having wipes on hand, I need to just carry those around for other messes that happen.  :)  Yeah for Mia!!