Syracuse's Heritage Days

June is over and with it the million things that we had going on. No wonder it flew by!

Syracuse’s Heritage Days festivities are one of my favorite things to do. This year we started our celebration on Thursday night by attending the fair and game booths.

I purchased wrist bands for the kids a month in advance so that the kids could have unlimited rides. My oh my they were worth it, we could have easily spent a couple of hundred dollars with the amount of times these kids rode on the rides. This was the first night the fair was open so we literally had all the rides to ourselves and the cool breeze of the evening to make things even more pleasant.

Julia made me go on this really grown up ride. while she was smiling and having a good time I was about to die. I felt all my blood rush to my toes and my head was spinning out of control.

When we got in the ride there were 6 people laying on the grass outside of it and I though that was weird, by the time the ride ended, I joined them. Apparently you needed a couple of minutes to recuperate from this particular ride that's how bad it was. Little Julia wanted to go again. I must be getting old because I hated that thing.

We played until 9:30 that night, but look how bright and sunny it still looks. We ended our fun with some shaved ice.

On Friday they had a free magic show for the kids. The kids loved it! There was a point during the show where the magician had a bunny puppet doing some magic with him. The bunny told the magician he wanted to turn all the kids into frogs, wouldn’t you know that my 5-year old bought it. She turned around looked at me all scared and said “I want to get out of here”. These are some serious words. If she ever says that is because she is really scared. Anyways I asked her why she wanted to leave and she said that bunny wants to turn me into a frog. I couldn’t do anything else but just laugh.

Every time that bunny touched the magician’s magic wand she got really concern. I don’t think she trusted that bunny at all.

The kids have been doing magic downstairs ever since that time. I smile every time I hear Josh say “Ada cadaba” and apparently this makes Julia turn into an animal because I start hearing animal noises all over the house.

They had a movie in the Park that night, but it was Rapunzel. Let’s be honest, right now we are watching that movie twice on a daily basis. We skipped the movie and just walked around the booths for a couple of minutes grabbing some cotton candy on our way home

Saturday finally came along. This is the most anticipated day for my kids besides Halloween, why? Well because of all the candy you get.

This year Julia got to be part of the parade though. She went with her tumbling class Flipside Tumbling.

We got her a bag full of candy to throw to people and I guess she took her job very seriously. When I went to pick her up from the trailer she rode on she told me: “mommy I tried so very hard but I just ran out of candy”. I guess throwing candy is a tougher job than what you though.

Josh was in charge of gathering all the candy from the parade. He was great at waving to people, so great that people threw candy at his head three times, not a very pretty picture as you can imagine.

When Julia’s parade trailer came around he stopped and logically got excited to see his sister. His priority was to wave and say hi to her, Julia’s response was: “Tell Josh to get the candy”

Although she had lots of fun being part of the parade, she made it clear to me that she rather catch the candy next year because Josh was waving too much and just not paying enough attention to the candy.

Thank you grandma and Grandpa for coming over and supporting her, we really enjoyed it.

We couldn’t end these festivities without fireworks and what a better way to enjoy them than from the comfort of your own front yard. The kids were ready with their PJ’s, so at the end of the show we just walked inside and took them straight to bed. Hassle free event! I love it.

 That was the end of our fiestas!

a cookie monster party

A.D you broke your promise, you told me that you were going to stay little for your mamma and just look at how big you are getting.
I remember when you came out as I was listening to my favorite Beatles song on the operating room. All the sudden there you were. A little bundle of joy, all cover in hair.
We were so happy to see you. I remember they put an I.V on your tiny little hand and I cried every time I saw it. You could barely even fit on the car seat. It looked humungous against your little cuddly body.
You are such a blessing to me. You love me so much. You know the sound of my footsteps and are so alert when you hear them in the morning. You can tell the sound of my voice from afar and I love seeing how your face lights up when you can finally see me.

You know just the right way to cuddle with me; like the other day when I was laying on the couch and you climbed up on it and snuggle and fell asleep right next to me.
You make me laugh and cry and when I am tired all I have to do is look at you and your siblings to get through my day.

 So I guess now you are going to start doing all that walking and talking and ignoring your mamma, but that’s fine. I have a year full of memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

We had a cookie monster birthday party for Andrew. It wasn’t because he likes this character but because he has learned how to growllike the cookie monster. He does it all the time and Julia and Josh think it is so hilarious.

We went to his favorite place so far, Arctic Circle. Their playground is so child friendly and he has learned how to climb up and crawl down their tube slide.

He has such a charisma that everywhere we go all the kids want to play with him. This time he was playing with 6 year olds.

Won’t you look at this picture?  It looks to me like one of those high school graduation pictures where they have the kids leaning against a tree and looking at the camera. He looks so grown up!

 

This place is one of our favorite because they give out some little ice cream cones to the kids. This was the first time that Andrew joined the gang on tasting this yummy treat.

As you can see it on the pictures, he absolutely loved it. He ate that thing in 5 minutes. All the sudden we heard him saying mas mas, which means more in Spanish. I love the last picture. can you see him saying: what happen to the ice cream, where did it go?... I sure can


 
That night we had a little party. The kids are always thrilled to have their cousins over and this was no exception.

A.D. had fun just chilling with grandpa and watching the commotion around him.
We opened presents and as I expected he loved the wrapping paper better than the toys inside. Good thing Julia and Josh were there to make sure those toys were put to good use.

When it was time to blow the candles we put him on his high chair. It was funny to see his face when we all started singing the happy birthday song to him. He was looking at us with one of his funny expressions that almost say: “what in the world is going on”; of course that was followed with one of his heart melting smiles.

Before he could figure out what to do with the candle, Julia helped him blow it up. After that the real party started. He was introduced to his first piece of cake.

Unlike Josh, who didn’t want to touch the cake and hated ice cream, Andrew went right for it. He took one little bite at first to see what it was all about and then handfuls of cake were flying left and right.

Every time he had a bite of the ice cream he made a funny face but the funny things was that he kept asking for more. I guess it was one of those sweet but though moments in life and at the end the sweet won.

We forgot to tell this kid what to do after he was finished with his cake and ice cream. He though the plate was part of his wardrobe and decided to balance it o his head like a hat. Thank goodness he had eaten all of his food or we would have had one messy hair-do.

Oh Andrew, never stop having that sweet smile of yours and that sweet temperament you carry yourself around with.


We love you big guy…

Your family

The Adventures of SuperNInjaJediPirate

This is another day for our SuperNinjaJediPirate.  He started his morning as usual; with two bowls of cereal and watching the Polar Express.  

Then he was call on duty when Dad made a bad move and ate some of the candy from his secret stash. SuperNinjaJediPirate to the rescue!

Oh no! Mom has discovered the SuperNinjaJediPirate weakness…pictures!  I’ll have to take that camera down.

You may have won the battle today mom, but let’s see who wins tomorrow, probably you again

As our Super Hero goes away to fight crime he gets involved on more important business. He discovers his sister’s evil plans on picking and watching a movie.

After being brain washed, he finally gives in and is forced to watch Tarzan for the rest of the evening

Father's Day

My dear Spencer,

We just wanted to let you know how special and beloved you are.

You are our hero, the man that we look up to everyday and are always there to pick us up and love us.

Your kids adore you; from the second they wake up and you spend that special morning time with them so that I can have some rest. They love your pancakes, especially Julia who has to have you Minnie mouse specialty pancakes. I don’t know how to make them apparently, she has told me so.

Josh loves telling you he wants to watch the Polar Express the second he opens his eyes and even though you have seen that movie a million times you put it on because you know he loves it.

You can imagine how sad we all get when it’s time for you to go to work. The kids love to give you their goodbye kisses and hug and wave to you as you drive out of the driveway.

The second you leave they start asking me when you are going to come home. They ask all day long and you have no idea how excited they get when they hear your car pull into the garage.

Their faces have this big smile and they can’t wait to tell you all the adventures they had.

My favorite time is bedtime. You take the time to read stories and sing songs to them and I am always jealous that Josh just wants you. You are his hero indeed.

Spencer every day I wake smiling knowing that I couldn’t have done a better job on picking a dad for my children. They love you, idolize you, adore you, look up to you, and respect you.

And again I have no idea what to get you for father’s day. You are so content with life and never want anything for yourself. You always put me and the kids ahead of everything.

I hope we can make this day special for you, just as you make our lives special every day.

Love:

Julia, Joshua, Andrew and your wife Gaby

11 months

 Andrew’s last month-birthday has come and gone. I don’t like it a bit. Josh was this little just yesterday and now is my other boy who is about to turn 1.


What can I say about this boy that I haven’t said before? He is a sweetie pie. He is a snugly as they come, he is my snugly bear.

I love that when he is tired he lays his head on my chest grasps on my hand and falls asleep with no fights, tantrums or cries. He knows he is safe with me and that just makes me feel so darn special.

He is a very inquisitive boy. If he sees something he likes, he has to look at it first and touch it, but like any other kid after the item passes inspection it has to undergo the taste test. He puts everything in his mouth.
Who needs one of those robot vacuums that go all the time when you have a baby in the house.

A.D. can crawl everywhere and he even stands and walks by holding onto things.

I have trimmed his hair twice since he was born and have to cut his fingernails every other day.

He loves his bottle but not as much as he loves finger food.

He is a mamma’s boy. If he wakes up in the middle of the night (as it has been happening often) the only thing that can calm him down is his mama. He falls asleep on my arms 5 seconds after I pick him up. Crazy I know. Julia is even starting to call him “Llama Llama red pajama” this is a character from a book that always needs his mama llama.

He has discovered how to give big smiles. I adore his face it is just so cute and innocent. He makes us smile every time he does this. The funny thing is that the smile only pops when he is doing something he shouldn't do or when daddy gets home from work.

He can wave hi.. He makes a high 5 and just moves it upwards.

He has 7 teeth, 4 on the top and 3 on the bottom. He loves to bite his forefinger. Sometimes he bites too hard and gets hurt

Andrew loves to read. This sounds really silly but he sits on the floor, grabs a book, flips on the pages and makes noises as if he is reading.

His favorite toy is the magnetic farm I have on the fridge. He loves to play with that thing. Way to go Santa, finally a toy that this kid is actually interested on.

His favorite time of the day is bath time with Josh. Those two have a blast every time, poor Julia does not like being left out of the fun but that is what happens when you grow up.

He is wearing the summer cloths that Josh wore just last year; yeah he is a big kid although he has tiny feet. He still wears a size 3. By this time Julia was a size 5 and Josh was a size 4

He loves to watch the kids play in the back yard. He stands by the glass door and jumps up and down whenever he gets a glance of his siblings.

His favorite roaming place is under the computer. If he finds a treasure on the floor he crawls right under the computer desk and starts examining it until he realizes that the computer cables make a better toy and snack.

He doesn’t like noodles but he is still a big fan of all vegetables specially carrots and peas.

His favorite snacks are animal crackers and of course cheerios.

He loves car rides but he doesn’t like shoes or socks on while in the car.

He loves the cat but the cat doesn’t feel the same way about him. Our poor Dasher runs away and hides under Julia’s bed every time Andrew is loose on the floor.

He claps when is truly happy

Andrew loves water including the cat’s water. He doesn’t drink it, he just likes to spill it all over the floor, sit  in the middle of the puddle and splash it all over which is followed by some hard core clapping to himself

He is not a climber, but he can climb upstairs and up the couch.

He is mellow but he would also stand up for a fight with Josh if he annoys him enough.

He loves prayer time but the second you are not looking he goes straight for the hair, which most of the time happens to be Julia's

He grawls when he gets mad, when he is not getting his way or when he gets his floor food taken away

This is my baby boy at 11 months, full of live and love and laughter. I am, for the fourth time, deeply in love. I wouldn’t trade anything in the world for the memories I have with my family.

Love you chunky bruster!

Your mama llama

 

   

The fun part of spring

Besides our extra curriculum activities and spring cleaning we found some time to enjoy ourselves.

Feeding the ducks:

We went to the Layton Park with some friends to feed the ducks or shall I say seagulls. Those birds really loved josh who was throwing bread up and down his head, literally.

I’ve never seen ducks so lazy in my life. They were just seating there and had not intended of getting the bread unless it landed right near them.

Andrew even tried to role play and started eating some of the bread...still it didn’t work.

After feeding the ducks we went over to the park nearby where the merry go around was a big hit with the kids. We ended up with bruised legs and scrapped knees but with two highly satisfied kids.

Playing in our backyard:

I really love my backyard, even though Spencer complaint of the hard work it is to keep up with it, it is just so relaxing. My favorite spot so far is this hammock. I love, love, love it. We have the perfect tree that it sits under for perfect shady naps.

The kids love the swing set. This is the best $50 we had ever spent. Even Andrew loves to go get some swings every now and then.

My Andrew has learn how to crawl up the stairs and up of pretty much every thing and any thing 

Pool party:

There was such a nice swimming weather a couple of days ago. I brought out our swimming pool. I swear this thing shrunk since last year, oh wait it didn’t shrink, my kids just grew. What appeared to be a perfect pool last year looks like a kid pool this year, yikes I guess I am going to have to hunt for a good pool sale again, after all I only paid $6 for this one.

What a better way to finish a swimming day than with a churro. I had Spencer pick some up for us, one of the advantages of having your hubby work at Costco.

   

 

Front Yard fun:

Have I mentioned that I have an artist at home? Julia is so great when it comes to coloring, drawing and painting. Here she is demonstrating her abilities with the chalk.

The only thing I don’t like about this is the extra chalk they get on themselves which spreads everywhere. Oh, well

The kids are loving being able to ride their bikes, scooters and their big monster truck down the street almost every day. Every now and then we even go for a walk around our neighborhood.

I think is so cute that they want to take their little brother along. They take turns; as one of them rides their toy the other one pushes Andrew on his stroller and vice versa. Andrew loves the attention and really likes the stroll. The other day they put little A.D. to sleep.