bottolene bunch

foto monday

2010-02-15T13:57:00.002-06:00

can't really stick to a certain day.
all is well in bottolene land.

hope all is well with you. these aren't exactly my favorite. they just are fotos.

hide and seek.

2010-02-09T14:49:00.000-06:00

a favorite game around our house lately, along with "ring around the rosie" is hide and seek. you are always welcome to come over and play with us. as you can see below, when vinnie and florie hide... it is nearly impossible to find them. even the final picture, vin is supposed to be "hiding"...

xx.

fave foto monday

2010-02-08T10:27:00.000-06:00

xx.

snow angel?

2010-02-06T21:23:00.000-06:00

sweet ava has spent the first part of the winter fussing and carrying on anytime a jacket was mentioned. she thinks they feel "tight", and didn't want to wear one. I can hardly blame her, as they aren't my favorite either.. however, i have learned that as a minnesotan, i need to embrace a good coat.

anyhow.. back to ava. it was early january, and scott and i held our breath as we dropped her at school. we both knew, that the teachers said "thursdays we go outside. you need a jacket, hat, mittens, snow pants and boots." early in the week we talked about practicing with her, and that she would need to do it at school. well, thursday rolled around and we never practiced. i went to work, and felt guilty for leaving the task to scott.

she came home that day.. completely in love with playing outside, and has worn her boots and jacket ever since. best money i have paid for preschool thus far.

here is the little snow angel-

xx.

fave foto friday! :)

2010-02-05T05:47:00.000-06:00

xx.

an email

2010-02-04T09:55:00.002-06:00

as the technology world expands, my students, and even ava.. are becoming computer savvy.

the fifth graders all had an important paper due today. we told them they could print it at school if they arrived at 8, rather than 8:15 when school starts.

here is an email i received last night-

Dear Ms. Bottolene,
My name is David.
You probably remember me from
The Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School.
Last time I checked, I was one of your students.
I can't figure out a way to print my outline without coping and pasting,
and I probably will not come to school at eight o'clock.
P.S.
I am sorry I couldn't properly in dent the second line, Gmail did not let me.
From,
David

i thought it was hilarious. he clearly has a good sense of humor, even if he might be a bit obnoxious in the classroom.

xx.

rub a dub dub

2010-02-04T08:51:00.000-06:00

three bottolene babies in a tub.

pardon the blurriness. it isn't an easy feat catching three still children.

xx.

neglected again.

2010-02-03T22:39:00.000-06:00

sorry. i can't seem to get the hang of this longer than a few days.
several entries follow.

happy february. the groundhog said 6 more weeks of winter? hmm.. i am ready for it to be over, but i don't think i am surprising any of you when i say that..

i am not a winter girl.

xx.

not enough credit.

2010-02-03T22:04:00.004-06:00

there are two handsome, patient, loving, easy going, snuggle loving males under our roof that don't get enough credit. kobe and baxter tolerate, tolerate, tolerate. all the while, waiting patiently for it to be nap or bedtime, so they could get some time to snuggle. they look longingly at us for a ride in the car, however long or short.. just to get some peace and quiet.

i make them promise me on a regular basis they will never get old. they willingly obliged, as long as i promised them they could still get donuts on saturday mornings, sleep on the bed when either scott or i gets up, and to never forget they are around, ready to give us a kiss and love whenever we are ready.

thanks kobe and baxter. we love you.

xx.

fave fotos.. one of each.

2010-02-03T21:42:00.001-06:00

fave foto monday

2010-01-04T05:46:00.000-06:00

vincent king

2010-01-03T06:12:00.000-06:00

buddy-

wow.. 18 months go by, and it seems like a whirlwind. i remember the moment you came out, and we all laughed because you were heavier than ava at her birth weight. you know what you want, and go after it. you continue to love animals, laughing, and are curious about everything you aren't supposed to be. i must say, you are teaching me things these past months, as you are turning into such a "boy". not that i mind.. you save the snuggles for me.. which means i can still count on you to be my momma's boy.

you love your nooney, playing with ava toys, and still look forward to sleeping.

thanks for warming my heart with your smile. i love you.

xx.

2010-01-03T05:54:00.000-06:00

florence james...

it is hard to believe you are 18 months today. i can remember the day you were born like it was yesterday. for nearly two months i sat on the couch anticipating your arrival. wondering if you would really be a girl like they said. your dad and i decided on your name not long before you came.. and i couldn't think it was more perfect. you are totally a florence. you continue to be a joker, a helper, and a lover of climbing, mischief, and demanding your thoughts. your love for your siblings is overflowing.

i can't wait to see what the next 18 months brings sweet girl. thanks for keeping me on my toes. you brighten my every day. i love you.

xx.

happy new year!

2009-12-31T17:33:00.001-06:00

what do you resolve to do differently this year?

me? i am not such a new year's resolutionist...

but. i do intend to-

be more purposeful in 2010. purposeful in terms of my body, my family, and my free time.

that is a window wide open really. lucky for me.

xx.

children's museum...

2009-12-29T17:39:00.002-06:00

we ventured to the children's museum last week. we met the massie kids there with ro.
i didn't get many pictures of the big kids..

but thought these were reasonably post worthy.

xx.

preschool program

2009-12-17T12:54:00.002-06:00

well, ava's class did a little preformance today.
i will post pictures later, but it was the cutest thing. of course, they all got shy... so you could really only hear one or two kids.

i had tears in my eyes the whole time. because i was.. proud of my big girl... in shock because i can't believe she is old enough to be in school... and because she is the cutest three year old i know.

guess i got my mom's crying gene.

xx.

want to win a computer?

2009-12-09T20:47:00.005-06:00

a blog i fell in love with while on bedrest..
and now have met the family in real life...

is able to giveaway a free HP touchscreen computer!

here is the link...

http://mckgiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/12/hp-touchsmart-giveaway.html

good luck. actually not. i hope we win. no offense

( i am working on making it a real link)

italian for life

2009-12-08T14:02:00.002-06:00

as you may know, scott has been out of work for awhile.

here is one of his projects that got completed while i was at work.

he told me it was either this or our mailbox. i opted for this.

he is an italian.. that is for sure.

xx.

so long.. so far away

2009-12-06T20:50:00.003-06:00

my apologies.

it has been well over a month now. i do have a reasonably good excuse, as our wireless internet went out for awhile. it is much easier to update while lounging on the couch, rather than making an effort to get to the desktop that is a not so convenient location.

what is new around here?

we had a great Thanksgiving. lots of family time. we ventured down to prior lake to scott's cousins house the weekend before. it was a nice time, as i am not sure the last time there was a gathering like that for a holiday. i presume scott's mom and sister were thrilled. more events entailed, with gathering the rest of the week. we are so fortunate to have family close that we get along with so well.

ava- is finally taking to school. she talks about it often, and is excited to go. the teachers even commented what a change she has made. we know she would need some time to get comfortable; we also knew that once she did, she would love school. we were correct on both predictions. we are still working on pooping on the toilet.. and you can be sure, i will post on that once it happens. arg. the advice we were given was, "she will do it when she is ready." so.. we wait.

vinnie- they are only to one nap a day now, which leaves the mornings for fun. vin loves to play with the cozy coupe, little people, and is babbling more and more. he is toughing up, and isn't quite the momma's boy he once was. it is all good though, as it is nice to see him trusting others more. his smile still brightens the room and warms my heart. he loves our dogs.

florie- interestingly enough, she has become more of a snuggler. maybe because there is finally a chance for her to be held? :) she is still a pistol, a joker, and a presistent little peanut. she is starting to look more like ava. she is a caretaker. she looks out and helps both ava and vin. like i have said before, what she lacks in size, she makes up for in personality. i can always count on her for a good laugh.

there you have it. my intentions are to update more often again.
i hope your hearts and homes are warm this holiday season.

xx.

first haircuts

2009-10-25T19:55:00.002-05:00

ava and vinnie both got thier first haricuts EVER yesterday. vinnie had the sweetest curls in back, but the problem was.. they were only in back. he had quite the mullet. we cut ava's mostly to just get a trim, since i figured once every 3.5 years is a good idea, and to get it more even. she wasn't too happy about the whole thing. vinners didn't know any different, so he just sat and chilled in the chair.

fall harvest orchard

2009-10-25T19:45:00.003-05:00

yesterday we ventured past delano for our annual orchard visit. we love this one, as it has many animals, pumpkins, apples, tractor rides, a snack shack, and a "corn bin" to play in.

grammy, jennie, olivia, miles and ruby joined us. we had a fabulous time.
we also stopped at the PIZZA RANCH for dinner in Delano. it was hilarious. the wait staff there is incredible. if you are ever in the area, stop by- the pizza isn't exactly delicious, but the show is spectacular.

xx.

fall harvest orchard part 2

2009-10-25T19:35:00.005-05:00

fall harvest orchard part 3

2009-10-25T17:52:00.005-05:00

xx.

ooh mexico...

2009-10-25T17:24:00.004-05:00

sounds so simple, i just have to go.

and so we did. scott and i, along with our dear friends cara and jer were off to cancun for six days. admittedly, i was very anixous about leaving my children for the first time... i have been away overnight, but nothing longer than that.

also admittedly, i was quick to relax, and soak up the sun and tequila.
90 degrees, and only one cloudy day....it was a great trip, with great friends. a great restoration for our marriage.. i know, you are probably surprised that we don't get much alone time in this life. :)

after six years, this was in honor of five years of marriage. what a lucky lady i am to have scott for my husband. he is charming, thoughtful, and a dynamite daddy. for more pictures, tune into facebook..

view from our hotel room-

the men in mexico-

the ladies lounging in the pool-

one of many tequila shots-

my favorite picture the whole trip-

xx.

fave foto florie

2009-10-25T17:05:00.003-05:00

the smallest bottolene makes up for in personality what she lacks in size. she is determined, and loves to joke around. she is the strongest child we have physically, as she knows how to use her muscles much earlier than other kids her age. although she is the baby, she rivals her brother and knows how to gain control when she needs to.
she loves her blankie, and to greet you every time you walk in the room with a big smile and a "hiiiii".

she is the bottolene queen-

xx.

fave foto vincent

2009-10-25T16:41:00.004-05:00

big dude has now been walking for nearly two months.. although 3 months later than his sister, you wouldn't know it now.
he loves animals, especially giving love to kobe and baxter. still a momma's boy, he is enjoying daddy time as well now. seemingly such a boy, he likes to wrestle, and is much rougher than the other two. his smile is bright and big, and he his greatest joy is playing with ava's toys (until she finds him of course).

our vincent king-

yes, in the third picture he is wearing one of ava's dresses. another perk of having two sisters i guess. they played dress up one day with dad, and ava picked the outfits.

xx.

fave foto ava

2009-10-25T16:09:00.003-05:00

our sweet princess is doing fabulously in school. while leaving mom and dad is still a challenge every drop off, she pushes through and ends up having a great day. i think last week was the first time she actually declared herself it was "great". i am impressed with the teachers and variety of activities as well.

her new love is playing with princesses... we knew that wouldn't take long, but we are now in the full swing of ariel, jasmine, cinderella, sleeping beauty and snow white.

here is our princess-

xx.

contagious laughter...

2009-09-28T21:00:00.008-05:00

watch this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHIT43bg6ic

vinnie and florie think they are hysterical.
sure to brighten your day...

sorry. i am not sure how to do a direct link... audra, can you help me?

xx.

fave foto friday... except it is monday

2009-09-28T18:49:00.005-05:00

these are taken out at the lake two weekends ago. at that point, it was still 80s during the day. this turn for the cold had me officially pack away the sundresses and shorts for the year. onto the fall wardrobe.

tonight, ava and scott went to watch our nephew jalen, play in one of his first highschool football games. so weird that he is so old... and one handsome dude to boot.

xx.

many firsts

2009-09-27T16:28:00.002-05:00

i don't have any pictures to add to this post.
however... there were many firsts that happened in the month of september.

1. ava went to her first day of school. so exciting! that is in an entry below if you want to read more.

2. we also went to ava's first "official" birthday party. ava was so excited to recieve the invitation in the mail, go pick out a special present, and then attend the party. her experience was complete with a grab bag of goodies to take home. happy birthday lexi!

3.the other thing that is big news.. one day last week, vinnie, florie and i picked ava up at school. we decided to have a special lunch date. it was the first official time we were able to actually sit down and have lunch. Oh, and earlier.. the entire family went to the Good Earth for dinner. We have probably been able to before now.. but haven't taken the challenge without more adult help. We typically eat meals at home, as it is so much easier and CHEAPER now that there are five of us.

the biggest FIRST is yet to come. God willing, Scott and I will be leaving the kids for the first time ever in a couple of weeks. It is our fifth anniversary on October 23, so we booked a trip to Mexico. still waiting on a couple of things to fall into place before we are certain. I haven't been away from any of the kids (even ava) for more than one night.. maybe two max. Not longer than 48 hours, and this will be nearly a week!

anything firsts happening at your house? in your life?

xx.

fave foto friday

2009-09-17T22:33:00.004-05:00

this week is a tribute to those "artistic" photographers out there...

f...

v...

a...

s...

l...

enjoy the unseasonably warm fall! i hope it lasts.. and lasts..and lasts!

xx.

first day of school

2009-09-17T22:12:00.004-05:00

our sweet, loyal, predictable three year old had her first days of preschool this week. both scott and i dropped her off on tuesday.. and much to my prediction.. she did not cry, i was the one that teared up. she was very quiet when we said we were leaving, and stuck close to one of her teachers the entire morning. the first day she was the "fish feeder", and today she brought a snack of her choice for the entire class. today she was more reluctant to be left, and even cried for a moment. however, at pick up, "miss pat" reported that ava seemed for comfortable than on tuesday. she is our little sweetie. once she feels comfortable and secure, she will certainly love school. she has always loved learning, and has an internal curiousity that will suit her well in learning situations.

here are a couple of pics from the first day.

doesn't the school look so big compared to her?

ready or not... here she comes!

ava and mom stop for a picture.

when she arrives every morning, she needs to put her name stick in "the middle" and then wash her hands.

xx.

my apologies...

2009-09-11T20:51:00.002-05:00

to my dear readers... all 6 of you.
the last three weeks have been hectic for me.
all the props to those moms who work outside the home full time...
i have been working full time for the last three weeks, and feel like i can barely come up for air... (probably a little dramatic, but you get the idea).

here are several posts.. enjoy.
i hope the fall is treating you well so far.
next week i go back to reality... and, because of a Jewish holiday... i only have to work two days. which means.. more time with my own kiddos for me!

xx.

fave foto friday ava

2009-09-11T20:46:00.006-05:00

xx.

fave foto friday florence

2009-09-11T20:41:00.003-05:00

xx.

fave foto friday vincent

2009-09-11T20:35:00.003-05:00

xx.

fave foto friday

2009-08-21T13:11:00.002-05:00

my last post before returning to work. i will try to post pics either on thursday or friday night moving forward.. as i am actually going to be working on fridays. wow.. what a change that will be. i haven't worked a friday in over a year.
enjoy the last weeks...days...moments of summer.

with love...

xx.

fave foto friday ava

2009-08-14T15:33:00.003-05:00

i picked these pics not because they are the best of her.. but show more the type of person she is. she loves to read, and curled up on the chair all on her own. she also loves to be silly with v and f.

miss ava. you are the queen of this house. you have grace, charm and a creative approach to anything you do. you are loving swimming this summer, and are up for any adventure we go on. you are a great big sister, and look out for v and f always. your concern and tender heart amazes me for a three year old. you almost always take 2 hours to be fully comfortable with new people and places. i say this often, but your beauty on the inside surpasses your pretty face any day. you have your share of tantrums since turning three. you are loyal, and concerned about the members of our family. you love to play with your cousins. you take in more than adults realize. you remember little details. i love when you say "i need you mom". i am lucky to call you mine.

xx.

fave foto friday vincent

2009-08-14T15:21:00.005-05:00

vinners..dudie..vins..*yuddy* you continue to be the same boy you were at birth. you will snuggle with me at any moment.. and wish you had me all to yourself, and will often push your sisters away so you don't have to share.. if even for just one moment. you are getting braver on your feet too! standing by yourself..and even taking a few steps. this is a perfect example of how cautious you are, and how you like to wait everything out to see what will happen before you make any decisions (i have no idea where you get that from. maybe the same person you look like?) you love playing with little people, and have taken a special liking to the Dora one. you love to eat.. and are happy to dine all day if given the chance. you warm my heart on so many levels. thanks for being my boy. i love you.

* yuddy is what ava calls him, which i have now caught onto to.

xx.

fave foto friday florence

2009-08-14T09:34:00.005-05:00

florence florence florence... you are full of spunk, determination, and curiosity. there is not a day that goes by that you don't find something "new" in our house that you can get your hands on. you keep me on my toes...yet always greet me with a warm smile, and are willing to share whatever it is you are getting into (like earlier this week it was dog food). you admire ava everyday, and want to do whatever it is she is doing. you prefer not to nap. especially if it means missing out on the fun in the other room. you are still such an active butterfly... moving and shaking wherever you go. your independence has not waned.. however.. you cuddle more now.. which i of course love. you are our little dollie. i love you more everyday.

xx.

zoo, falls and sea salt

2009-08-09T21:04:00.007-05:00

this summer has been full of adventures.
i am sad that in two weeks i go back to work.
i am taking on a new role this year, as a fifth grade teacher.. i will still be part-time, as i am job-sharing with a dear friend. although i am excited for my new endeavors... i am sad to leave my darlings here behind...

over the last two weeks we went to the zoo with my cara, jere, jack and callie.
we were able to feed the giraffes which was very cool. the kids checked out the new play area, and we were able to go inside with the goats...

then.. we went to see the minnehaha falls with amy and adam. we ventured up and down the many stairs, and then finally relaxed for lunch at SEA SALT. have you been? you should try it.. i guess there is normally quite the wait.. but it wasn't so bad the day we were there.

i have more posts coming up.. i decided not to go crazy all in one day, and then leave you hanging for several.

have a great week.

xx.

extended family...

2009-08-09T20:35:00.004-05:00

friday night we attended my (mostly) cousin's wedding.
it was a nice ceremony, dinner and a great reception.

here are some photos of the extendeds...

big pete

margs and i get earn a sheriff badge

mike sike

dad and i

john, pete and michael

justin

p and e

sarah and coby

the baby first cousins.. mike and erika

susie and john

my apologies.. i didn't get photos of all the attendees.

xx.

fave foto friday

2009-08-09T20:12:00.002-05:00

without further ado...

xx.

fave foto friday

2009-07-31T00:01:00.000-05:00

caught off guard

florie at the park

vinnie at the park

yes she always wears that pink dress :)

vin shows me his teeth

i found florie here one day.. just chilling like a teenager on a chair

xx.

my guys...

2009-07-30T22:13:00.005-05:00

this starts off four new posts.. can you believe it? maybe i could spread them out instead of doing four at once? naw... this keeps me good for a couple of days now.

have a great weekend!
xx.

mighty massie's

2009-07-30T22:00:00.003-05:00

adventures with the massie kids are a part of a typical week for us. parks, pools, children's museum are just some of us locations.

this week i caught some good shots of them at the park-

O

M

R

xx.

it only took a year...

2009-07-30T21:56:00.003-05:00

well, after one year.. we are fairly sure this is the first picture where all three children are looking at the camera. maybe i shouldn't post it here, and send it as our christmas card... hmm.

oh.. and p.s. it seems like many of the pictures i post on here the kids are in the cribs. they don't hang out in there all day.. i promise.

xx.

perspective

2009-07-30T21:14:00.002-05:00

it's all about perspective, right?

this week, as i read another mommy blog, i was brought to tears on more than one occasion. she has a son, who is just 9 months old, who struggles with a racing heart. at one point, she blogged about how her parents and family were coming down, because she wasn't sure what was happening, that he was crashing, and it didn't look good. he is much better now, and hopefully will be going home soon.

as i read her blog, and prayed for both the health of her son and my kids, i realized how precious life is. i know we all say it all the time, but do we really live that way?

reading her blog has given me a fresh perspective. i could have a child in the hospital, or worse, one who was struggling for his life. i could have three kids at home who aren't exactly sure what is going on, when their mommy is with their brother for long periods of time at the hospital.

but i don't. i need to remember that. this week, i am trying to look at things differently. i am more patient with my children. i give them extra love when they want it, and even when they don't. i pay less attention to my own needs, and focus on what other's need or want. i try to see the best in people. i am aware that life really is precious.

hug your kids, grandkids and loved ones a little longer next time. i promise you won't regret it.

xx.

hats off (or on) to you....

2009-07-28T10:42:00.005-05:00

vinnie was loving when i put these hats on him.. and laughed harder when i put them on myself. if you ask me, he wears pink well.

florie wasn't as into the hats.. but i snapped a few photos of her as well. i think she has flashbacks to her helmet, and rips it off as soon as it goes on.

xx.

a few adventures of ava

2009-07-28T10:02:00.007-05:00

ooh... i bet you are thinking.. a tuesday post? that is unlike her. i know, i know. i always am hopeful to post more often, but clearly don't.

anyhow.. we are in full swing of the three year old behavior.

most of you are aware, ava is a pretty picky eater. she eats only to take the edge off, and never overindulges. kind of like her mom... ha ha. i wish i had that habit.
anyhow... she always announces she doesn't like something when offered, even though most of the time she has never tried it. we were eating dinner on saturday night, and ava decided to dip her french fries in blue cheese dressing. she loved it. says no thank you to ketchup, but blue cheese was a hit. go figure.

then.. on sunday night, we were at a park with a bunch of high school friends and their children. we had a great time, and dallas and her family even made the trip down for it. we walked back to our cars, and dallas and i were visiting for a minute on the curb while the dads loaded the kids up. ava's favorite thing is to pretend to drive. little did we know that she was also loading the CD player with coins. hmm... now there is no radio in our car. needs to be fixed for sure. i am guessing i will try to talk really nicely to JP to see if he will help scott. that is only the second naughty thing she has done... not that she is prefect, but hasn't really engaged in any other behavior like that, other than when she colored black crayon all over her bedroom walls. (thanks to melaleuca.. it came off easily)

yesterday... she told me she wanted "to be like mommy". she proceeded to put my blush on her lips... and said that it was lipstick, and now she looked like mommy.
we were laughing about it, and she loved checking herself out in the mirror.

as i sit here typing, she is laughing hysterically at CLIFFORD on tv. i can't help but smile. i mean.. look at that face... wouldn't you?

xx.

fave foto friday

2009-07-24T21:18:00.005-05:00

this week is dedicated to the action shots...

sibling love

mealtime.. what? you don't think going over to them every minute or so, and sitting them back in their chairs doesn't sound like fun?

one of ava's favorite presents.. her DORA packpack

florence being florence.. checking everything out

ahhh.. and one of my favorite moments. at the end of a weekend at the lake, they fall asleep on the way home, and transfer to their bed easily

nothing new to report. just thankful for our own and loved ones health and happiness. we are blessed in so many ways.

xx.

mini me?

2009-07-17T15:15:00.003-05:00

we were at my dad's house a couple weeks ago,
and scott went outside to talk to margie's friend carrie.
he was holding vinnie.

her response was... "holy mini me".
seems pretty accurate.

xx.

fave foto friday florence

2009-07-17T15:06:00.004-05:00

first, my apologies, as auntie observed, i cheated yall.
the last two postings were the same of florie.
truth be told, i didn't take many.. if any pictures between those two postings.
seems like scott is the photographer lately.

can't believe this cold weather. speaking of cheated... where is my summer? i am a teacher for a reason after all. kidding. i am a teacher for the kids.. not my summers.

this week, you get three pictures of each child.
enjoy!

the serious look..

so proud of her climbing accomplishment

drinking from mom's cup is always better than your own

xx.

fave foto friday vincent

2009-07-17T14:51:00.004-05:00

that silly hat

likes to stick out his tongue

another picture?

xx.

fave foto friday ava

2009-07-17T14:35:00.005-05:00

the new thing is silly faces for the camera...

notice the baby in her dress.. her attempt at a baby bjorn.

they all love to ewar this on their heads.. pretty cute, huh?

xx.

fave foto friday (on wednesday)

2009-07-15T19:36:00.003-05:00

summer is flying by. although it has been a quite cool summer, cooler than i like.. i can't complain about the weather. we have been outside everyday for as long as i can remember. the fresh air does wonders for the kids and me.

nothing too new to report. vinnie isn't walking yet... we are patiently waiting. i have to admit, as much as i would like him to walk.. i am glad that when we are in public places, there aren't two one year old wandering around.

florence so far is our only child who will willingly talk to strangers, or really has no shyness to be seen. it is interesting.. there are advantages and disadvantages to shyness. ava and vinnie stick close to me.. which is good because i always know where they are. it can at times prove to be frustrating though, as i can't "shake them" when i would like to. florie.. feels comfortable immediately, which leads to caring less where i am. which one is better? not sure one is better.

i hope your summer is swell.

best..

xx.

fave foto friday

2009-07-03T22:22:00.003-05:00

here it is.. i know i have been a slacking on the updates.
below you will see that today we celebrate vinnie and florie turning one.
i think especially this year, it is a celebration scott and i take pride in. a year ago tonight, we had newborns! florence weighed 4 pounds 11 ounces. vinnie was my biggest child, at 6 pounds 10 ounces. we were about to embark on something indescribable. tough moments, yes.. but terrific moments outweigh those by far.
i love my three kids. my husband. my dogs. i am a lucky lady.

happy fourth of july.

xx.

happy birthday flors!

2009-07-03T22:17:00.003-05:00

florence james. independent. funny. social. sweet. curious. loving. loved. fabulous. thanks for enriching my days and enlightening my life. you are one special girl. i love you dollie.

happy birthday buddy!

2009-07-03T22:11:00.003-05:00

vincent king. snuggles. smiles. momma's boy. sweet. sensitive. loves to wrestle. adorable. adored. simply vibrant. thanks my making my days sweeter and life easier. i love you dudie.

xx.

hello. again. hello.

2009-06-27T15:52:00.001-05:00

anyone know that neil diamond song? ha ha.
anyway... sorry. i have been MIA as far as blog.. and internet life goes completely.
wish i could say it was some sort of pledge on my part.. to be on the computer less. it wasn't really intentional, however.. i have enjoyed the little break.. or at least not being so attached to checking email, facebook, etc.
since my last post... we have been busy. the first two weeks of june were the end of my school year. that is always a busy, fun, somewhat sad time.
this year, i attended the 8th grade graduation. it was my very first class.. i taught most of them when they were in grade 3. i teared up on several occasions as i sat in the audience. i listened to essays they had written, and was amazed at how well they can write. i watched as certain kids were honored. i cried when it was mentioned that two of the 8th graders had lost parents during their years at MJDS. i thought of how much i will cry when my own kids graduate.

we have also been out enjoying the summer as best we can. this summer, compared to last the three kids and i are out and about. we have been to many pools, parks and playdates. we play in our own kiddie pool. we just enjoy each and everyday the best we know how.

florence is now walking everywhere. vinnie is getting closer, although he has pretty much mastered crawling, and would rather do that instead. they are complete delights. it is so hard to believe we are nearing a year since they were born. wow.

ava is for sure a three year old, as she will often tell you. she is very verbal.. for better or worse. she too, is a delight, and makes me laugh everyday. we look forward to the babies morning nap.. when we get some alone mommy/ava time.

we have gone to the lake a lot on the weekends... which gives us time to relax, swim and enjoy life as a family. we have some projects going on around the house too.. but i will write more about that another time. v and f just woke from a nap.. so i am off to play with them.

xx.

what do YOU have down there?

2009-06-27T15:48:00.002-05:00

i always encourage my students to be curious. curious kids are cool. now.. i get a flavor of what it is like for two of my own to be curious.
seems like they were comparing body parts beneath the water.. doesn't it?

xx.

isn't she lovely...

2009-06-27T15:47:00.002-05:00

enough said.

xx.

fave foto friday.. on tuesday

2009-06-02T23:09:00.001-05:00

sorry folks. missed the day. i have to say... the weeks fly by.
here are a couple of favs, and then below are more specific posts. without further ado..
even pictures of the parents this time! wow... and.. i wrote all of this before i did the rest... i added several posts tonight! time for bed...

xx.

baby girl

2009-06-02T22:50:00.006-05:00

florence james...
11 months is here today. i can't believe where the time went. you, like your brother certainly have your own personality. we are equally excited to watch you grow and develop. so far you are independent, assertive, and persistent. you don't like to snuggle, unless it is in the middle of the night... which i will take any day. you love to smile, wave hi and bye-bye, and take your brothers toys whenever you can. your dedication and motivation amaze me... especially at your young age. you are walking.. took four steps tonight in fact. what you lack in size you make up for in spirit. you are my baby girl. cheers to you wonder woman. i love you.

my boy is 11 months..

2009-06-02T22:42:00.003-05:00

vincent king,
for only one short month you are still considered an infant. this year has gone by so quickly. i can't wait to watch you grow into your personality.. although there are so many traits that are already obvious. you are a momma's boy like no other.. which is 100 percent okay with me. you are sensitive, like to tease me by saying dada instead of mama, and love to snuggle. you are moving quickly around the house.. speed crawling i would call it. you also walk along ther furniture, and are so proud of your accomplishments. you love to play in the bathroom, and both your dad and i have found you splashing in the toilet... speaking of splashing, you love the bathtub. thanks for being my boy...here's to the last month of babyhood!
i love you buddy.

random summer pics.

2009-06-02T22:32:00.004-05:00

vincent driving the cozy coupe.

florence.. who is walking now.

not sure what they are looking at, but i think i have this same pic of my dogs begging for food..

rae-rae.. we call her rae-zer. scott made it up.

daddy and the girls.. crazy on the deck at the lake.

i ain't gonna paint no more...

2009-06-02T22:25:00.004-05:00

last summer, scott brought ava a book home called "i ain't gonna paint no more..." to which a kid paints parts of his body.. his whole body to some cute little rhyme. last weekend ava was trying to recreate the picture in the book.
as she painted her body, she was quoting the book.... "oh there ain't no harm, if i paint my arm... oh, i ain't gonna paint no more."

a bath followed.
xx.

for the love of the kids..

2009-06-02T22:14:00.004-05:00

all of our parents love their grandkids... unconditionally.
our kids are lucky to spend three days a week with my mom and margie, soaking in all the love they have to share. one day two weeks ago, gammy takes it to an interesting level. ava convinced her to run thru the sprinkler.. fully clothed. come to think of it.. scott's dad, "papa" did it a week or so ago. some things are better left to the grandparents.

then today, when ava was supposed to be sleeping, my mom went in and told her to lay down. they then had the following conversation:

G: ava lay down, time to rest.
A: but g, i have to call someone.
G: who do you need to call ava?
A: my friend. i am not sure what her name is, but she lives in russia.

she keeps them on their toes to be sure.

xx.

Happy Birthday Ava!

2009-05-22T18:40:00.005-05:00

today our princess turns three. seems crazy that just three short years ago we were without children, knowing little of what our lives would become once you entered the world. you are smart, insightful, sensitive, caring, creative, artistic, and love life. your dad and I are forever grateful and amazed that god chose us to be your parents. we are often complimented by strangers how beautiful you are. they only see the outside.. what they miss is that you are more beautiful on the inside than youar eto the naked eye. you are a great big sister, and both vinnie and florie look up to you always. i am proud of you always. i wish you a life full of love and laughter. you are such a special gift. words can not express what you mean to us. all my love.

mom

fave foto friday!

2009-05-22T18:16:00.002-05:00

almost 11 months... florence james (if you didn't know)

almost 11 months.. vincent king

three years old.. ava nicole

the prince himself. scott thomas

enjoy the long weekend!
xx.

fave foto friday

2009-05-15T21:26:00.004-05:00

greetings.
not too much new to report this week.. i do have fotos of course.
this week (and most weeks) i don't have a new picture of scott for your viewing pleasure. he and i are the least photographed members of our family. we are the master's behind the camera. wink.
have a good week!

florie loves the swing.. she is our daredevil to be sure.

vinnie figured out how to "fall" from standing up recently

and miss ava loves her yogurt. this was her serious pose.

xx.

ava's first car.

2009-05-15T21:14:00.004-05:00

happy belated mother's day to all who read this.
i didn't get any pictures of our festivities, but have some others for you.
ava was supposed to be napping in my dad's bed on mother's day.
when she was finally allowed to come out from her rest, the first thing she said was "whose yellow car is that in the driveway?" we all laughed, because clearly she was looking out the window instead of resting. anyhow, it was margie's sister-in-law's yellow corvette. ava thought it was pretty cool, and thought it was even cooler to sit in the driver seat.
the pictures aren't so good, but i thought she looked cute, and the story at least was post-worthy.

fave foto friday

2009-05-08T10:11:00.005-05:00

here are fotos of four of my favorite people.

happy friday.

xx.

a glimpse of singlehood.

2009-05-04T13:57:00.002-05:00

scott left to visit his sister who lives in los angelos wednesday night. i have been manning the fort by myself. we did go to my dad's for a bit over the weekend, however it is just not the same. i am not so sure i get any more of a "break" when he is home.. it just feels different. the freedom to run to target, or get groceries, dog food or 10 minutes of quiet. :)
we are all surviving, but miss him dearly. ava said the other night.. "it just isn't the same without daddy." she is absolutely correct.

xx.

happy birthday g!

2009-04-29T10:43:00.002-05:00

april 27th marked g's 37th birthday. or so she says. we gathered at our house, ate chinese, some fancy desserts, and then were able to soak in the pleasant spring evening. here are some pics.

g and ava make a funny face...

rae rae

the happy couple.

time for some football. ava throws the ball to daddy.

and last but not least, bompa.

happy birthday g! part 2..

2009-04-29T10:27:00.004-05:00

vincent

ruby

florence

xx.

bath time..

2009-04-22T20:43:00.003-05:00

scott and ava were at swimming lessons tonight.. and since "mom days" are bath days... i ran the water in the sink for v and f. it is easier on my back to do it there, and plus.. they are so stinking cute when they can look at each other and laugh and play. i don't have to worry that one of them is going to face plant into the tub full of water.
i haven't updated on them recently.. and there is so much to tell. the prior post talks about their eating. so crazy to think they are now eating real people food... where did the last 10 months go? ha ha.
anyhow.. they are both pulling themselves up as often as they can. florie is by far at this moment better on her feet than the captain is. he still likes to stand on his tip toes, and has much more weight to get off the ground than she. either way... i sense walking in the future.. maybe closer than i suspected. flors likes to challenge herself by standing without hanging on instead of sleeping in her crib... she spends the first 20 minutes or so just standing up... seeing how long she can go. vin on the other hand.. is lights out just about the second after his head lays down. motherhood is so great. i was home for 12 days with all three kids.. and for only 1.5 hours of that time did i wish i was at work. summer is going to rock.

here are pictures of my princess and lion...

oh.. and by the way.. vinnie found his favorite man part during this photo shoot. it was quite fascinating to the little guy. boys will be boys.

xx.

go finger...

2009-04-22T20:36:00.001-05:00

last week i was on passover break from school.. make that almost to weeks. anyhow.. i decided to really get caught up on my baby food makings, and made over 200 cubes of varous fruits and veggies. great idea, right? not so much.. when the two you are feeding decide they would rather do it themselves.. with their fingers. we will make it work.. it just surprised me. clearly they are of the age where becoming more independent is wanted and all good.. i just laugh when i look in my freezer at more cubes than one can imagine. go finger... i mean figure.

xx.

prince charming

2009-04-21T21:01:00.005-05:00

thank you for being an amazing father to our children. i try not to take your involvement for granted. thank you for keeping me smiling and laughing, even when i want to cry. thanks for letting me sleep in somedays.. even when you really want to. thank you for letting me lay on the couch when we watch tv at night. thanks for always putting our families needs before your own. thanks for making the dogs food and taking them for walks. thanks for taking crazy self portraits like the one above with the camera, and not telling me.. so i find them myself. thanks for working so hard to that i can only work part time. thanks for our date nights. thanks for the million times you have painted rooms in this house. and the million more times you will paint in the future. thanks for being the finance man in our house, yet driving the less desirable vehicle. thanks for staying true to your dreams and values. thanks for being my prince charming. i love you.

garage sale.

2009-04-17T09:50:00.003-05:00

as i am going thru things around the house to put in a garage sale next weekend, i can't believe how many clothes ava had/has/will have. she has always had the most clothes in the house, and as i go thru multiple tubs of her old clothes, to either dress florie in, sell, or keep i am a little embarrassed. the good news is, florie is moslty set for spring. they are a little off in seasons, but maybe flors will hit a growth spurt here. i am also getting rid of more clothes than i have in the past. currently, we are content with three kids. i don't believe this will change, but sometimes god's plan is greater than mine. either way.. i do not need this excessive amount of clothing. wish i had that much myself. maybe the cash i earn will provide me with some fun spring updates.

no pics of the kids today. pinky swear to have some next time.
for now.. get outside and enjoy the weather!

xx.

i will never understand...

2009-04-17T09:23:00.002-05:00

i was peacefully asleep at about 6:45 this am, when one of the dogs jumped on the bed. i instantly got a huge whiff of poo. scott was getting ready for work, so i called downstairs to tell him kobe had rolled in poop while he was outside this am. yuck. the bad news is, scott thought he had cleaned him up, as he was already out of the bath. double yuck. that means i had to give the second bath. i just don't get it.. why do dogs find stinky things, and then roll in them? like i don't have enough people to bathe around here? it is gone now.. and i sent him outside to dry. hopefully he does not repeat the 6 am behavior.

xx.

easter blessings

2009-04-13T10:19:00.006-05:00

as usual,
the bottolene bunch had an action packed holiday. we attended good friday service in monticello with my dad and margie, and spent some of the day saturday at my dad's. sunday we were at my aunt and uncles for the big charlebois gathering. an egg hunt and brunch were the events, and everyone was thankful for the warm spring day. we then arrvied at our house just in time for the bottolenes to come for another egg hunt and lasagna dinner. we served both a meat and vegetable lasagna. believe it or not.. i was the one who made the veggie one, and it was actually good. don't get too excited mom, it isn't like i am going to start cooking. but i was proud of myself. even greater compliments were given to scott.. who some said made a lasagna better than his nanny (who is an authentic italian).
i didn't take out the camera for part two of easter, but will get some pictures up of those cute massie kids soon!
we hope you had a wonderful easter, and took time to reflect on what easter means to you.

ava finds her first egg.

pp and rae.

coby the boy.

xx.

easter blessings part two..

2009-04-13T09:59:00.008-05:00

devin on the hunt

big pete shows his eggs.

erika and nana

handsome boy shows his teeth.

swimming lessons

2009-04-13T09:50:00.003-05:00

when i was an infant, my papa took me to swimmming lessons. he has such fond memories of it, and although i can not remember, it warms my heart to think about the special time just he and i shared. i wanted to contniue the tradition. when ava was about 9 months, my dad and larry a couple of times took her to swimming lessons. she loves the water and was ready for the next level, so this spring we took the plunge and registered at foss. i was a little skeptical at first of the cost, but i will say that in three lessons, we already got our money worth. her and my dad love it. she goes under water with no hesitation, and can't wait for wednesday nights. these pictures are not great, as they were mostly moving while the pictures were being taken.

xx.

the park is back.. raise the roof.

2009-04-09T21:28:00.003-05:00

tonight it was so nice out that we all loaded up and walked to a nearby park.
we were in two "strollers". ava was in the burley/bike trailer.. which she calls her "supercar". she loves it because she can bring her dolls, dinner, and whatever else with her. vinnie and florie were in the double stroller. next time i may get creative and load them all into the burley. that way i can do it by myself. ava was thrilled to reconnect with the swings, slides, and monkey bars. vinnie and florie tried the swing for the first time.. and it was adorable. they shared one of those baby swings, so they were facing opposite directions with thier backs touching. i unfortunately forgot the camera.

raise the roof for two days now in a row where we could enjoy some fresh air. and.. two days in a row that ava has napped.

xx.

our first walk

2009-04-08T19:19:00.001-05:00

today we bundled up and braved lake calhoun. all three kids were in a stoller. luckily, i had two lovely friends with me to help push them. it was probably the longest walk of mollie and cassie's life, as it took close to an house and a half to get around the lake. we did stop at the park to play, so i guess our timing wasn't terrible. the good news is, we were able to get out and enjoy the weather. this was ava's first time at the park this spring. she was thrilled. i am on spring break, and look forward to many days ahead of outside time. vin and florie are so excited and curious to see what the outdoors have to offer. i hope you are enjoying the weather!

xx.

REAL SIMPLE??

2009-04-06T18:05:00.003-05:00

today i came home from work early. up until today, all of my childen have been without baths for more days than i care to share. ava was helping me put up a new shower curtain, and requested a bath. this was her second of the day. i said sure and started the water. she and i have been talking about vin and flors coming in with her, so i asked her if we should try it. for about 10 minutes, i had all three of them in the tub together. i thought... oh this will be so easy, get them all done in one shot. as you can imagine.. it wasn't so simple.... but they all had a blast!

no picture for this post...as i wasnt' about to try to take my hand out of reach for even a moment.

nap time

2009-04-06T17:59:00.003-05:00

well... i think i must admit nap time for ava is over. in the last two weeks, she has slept maybe three days. scott doesn't agree with me, but i am certain this is the path kids take when they don't need/want naps anymore. the other sign is, she really isn't so crabby in the evenings anymore, and the days she does nap.. is ready to party till 9 oclock.

she does a great job at staying in her bed. she entertains herself in a variety of ways. here is a picture of her in her "french hat" as she called it. you may know it as a pull-up diaper.

quiet time is still important.. maybe more for me than her. we will make a "rest basket" that she can do when she is in there.... resting.

9 months and at the table

2009-04-06T17:54:00.003-05:00

vinnie and florie are officially 9 months. really, it has flown by. they are now sitting at the table to eat, and are so cute thinking they are so big. what else are they up to? florie moves everywhere... and i am not sure she stops for many seconds unless she is asleep. vinnie is actually moving around more on his tummy, and hopes to crawl soon. she has two teeth, he has four. for now, i think we will enjoy the calm of only one child running this.. i mean around this.. house. :)

here are pictures of the new eating digs.

xx.

not one.. but two?

2009-04-02T10:34:00.002-05:00

seems like things are better in pairs at our house.
we had one child, ava.. and she was so great, we decided we would get a two for one special. we were not disappointed. now.. and many of you may laugh.. we are the proud owners of not one... but TWO minivans. my dear grandma hyster passed a couple of months back, and scott is trading some painting of her place for her van. we now have two vehicles that can transport the whole family. we just need to equip the second with all the carseats.
maybe i will take a picture and post it soon. every time the garage door opens, it puts a smile on my face. who would have guessed?
xx.

Gram Turns 90

2009-03-30T12:59:00.004-05:00

my dear grandma dellas turned 90 last friday. all of her children gathered to throw her a birthday party. the turn out was great. many of her nieces and nephews traveled from wisconsin to come and see her. my cousin nick and his family also made the haul. it was great to see everyone and i know gram was so happy. 90 years? can you imagine? i swear.. she has a better memory than i do. happy birthday gram! we love you!

the birthday girl.. della mae

gram and her 6 kids

the charlebois family

the bottolene bunch

auntie and i take a self portrait

the boss...

2009-03-28T08:18:00.002-05:00

so, i am still figuring out exactly what parts of our lives our blogworthy. the truth is, probably not much. however.... if you are choosing to read, i presume you are choosing to be entertained, and care about the little things.

yesterday, ava and scott were about to leave the house. here is how the conversation went..

A- "mommy, daddy says i have to go potty. i don't want to go potty."
Me- "ava, we always go potty before we leave the house, so you don't have to go in the car."
A- (to scott) "mommy will help me. she is the boss."
scott proceeds to follow her into the bathroom to help her, as i am feeding vinnie and florie.
A- "no daddy... moooommmy will do it. she is the boss."
Scott- "ava, mommy might be the boss, but i am the king."
A- "no daddy. mom is the boss and you are the dad."

today the sunshine is out. this morning my mom's family is gathering to celebrate gram's 90th birthday. it is a good day to smile.

ready for spring

2009-03-27T13:38:00.004-05:00

every year about this time, it seems as though we get a little spring teaser.
last weekend scott pulled all of the plastic, i mean toys, out of the garage. ava was loving being outside.. and we even took florie out there for a minute. this house is ready for spring. it seems like that 60 degree weekend was an eternity ago. 5 days in a row of grey and rain is too many. even a little sunshine with the 30s would be appreciated. until then... i will continue to hibernate and enjoy my night time lineup.

vincent and florence

2009-03-25T08:58:00.002-05:00

we made it to 9 months! hooray! honestly.. i have said this nearly 100 times. "it has never been as hard as people told me it would be." for certain.. .every month and milestone that passes, life gets easier. i don't think any of us could imagine our lives without them. yesterday i was in a conversation at work, describing how it is so interesting that two kids could come out of the same womb. florie is independent, busy, and curious. she is constantly smiling, but wants to be on the go. vinnie, is also a smilier. however, he is also way more sensitive, and cares none about moving. as he sits, he likes to see how things work, and i often observe him moving the "parts" of a toy. i would say she is like me, and he like his dad. they are only 9 months though, so much could change. twice the love, laughter and life is more than twice as nice. love to my babies.

in the hospital

5 months

7 months

now!

as we approach three years

2009-03-25T08:44:00.000-05:00

nearly three years ago we were blessed with a beautiful baby girl. although she is no longer a baby, she is still beautiful.. on the inside and outside. i can't believe she is almost three. it seems like forever ago we only had one bundle of joy in our arms. ava has a profound imigination, a sensitive heart, a warm smile, and laughter that is contagious. i pray god continues to nurture her spirit and heart. preschool awaits her in the fall... which is so bitter sweet for me. here are some pictures from the last three years. i love you miss ava.

coming home from the hospital

5 months

10 months

18 months

2.5 years

here we go...

2009-03-22T21:16:00.000-05:00

our friends and family mean the world to us. there is not one friend or family member who i didn't wish we saw more. although it is often through a blog or facebook, i feel lucky that i can sit down at night and catch up on the nuances of their lives. it helps me to feel connected. during both pregnancies, and the first year of ava's life i was much better than i am now at sending updates via email. my hope is that this blog will motivate me to write more, even if it is short and sweet. and let's face it.. most of you just want the pictures. and i don't blame you. in my opinion, my kids are adorable.

Ava Nicole

Vincent King

Florence James

thanks for reading. i'll be in touch.
xx. lisa