Anthony LOVES soccer!
Especially his new "real" jersey...
Alex has learned to LOVE the lake!
And his brothers Sponge Bob swim trunks...
I really do love all the phases.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Time for a change
I get restless
I like change
maybe too much
So instead of making drastic changes
which I think about doing
now and then
I decided to start with the a desk
A desk I bought for $10
the picture stinks but I painted it blue
it looks very cool
still waiting for a chair
but for now the ottoman will due
Then I painted a wall
to hang my Ria pictures that
are waiting for me
Then I bought two end tables
$20 for both
They are going to be light yellow
then I bought an entertainment stand
black shabby chic for $30
I completely forgot about
how much I love to decorate
I stopped because I was busy
I began again because I
was bored
Now all I can think about is
hanging my new pictures
on my pretty wall
Not to mention have Erik wire
my new to me Turquoise lantern above
my new to me black table and chairs
good-bye ceiling fan that I had to have
hello white walls with pops of
turquoise, yellow, and black
maybe red and a little spring green
goodbye carpet, hello wood floors
goodbye old surrounding stuff
hello fresh, clean, and new
I am beginning
To feel the Calm
Did I mention I
LOVE
Craigs List?
I am beginning
To feel the Calm
Did I mention I
LOVE
Craigs List?
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Haircuts and earcuts
School starts in a couple of weeks and it was definitely time for Anthony to ditch his Rod Stewart cut. His hair was out of control! I cut it last time (need I say more). He was so traumatized he would not let it get cut for the rest of the summer plus he liked feeling like a rock star. He requested a mohawk but I am not a cool mom like that, especially for the school year. I guess that is what summer is for. Swimming, popsicles, and crazy hair!
Back to reality:
Alex was not planned to have a hair cut but you know how it goes-he sees Anthony getting it done and he wants one too. I think he changed his mind once it got started (pretty sure he just wanted a sucker to begin with). I walked away when she was cutting because I thought he would do better. In between crying he was chatting away with her. Told her he was six and she had pretty hair. Then got mad because his ear received a little trim too because he wouldn't sit still. I am positive she was not sad to see us go.
I think he worked the zebra cape quite nicely.
We can check hair cuts off of our school to do list. Only about 50 more to go!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
To be an Italian.
Erik's grandmother Josephine is in transition. She is will be 99 years old in 6 days. Yes, I said 99. Can you imagine all that she has been witness to? Her last few days are approaching us.
Erik's parents moved to Fargo-Moorhead when he was just a baby. The rest of his family has remained in Colorado. Erik's great-grandparents came here from Italy. From what I understand his great-grandfather was a farmhand and he fell for the the farmer's daughter. I think a story that is very similar to my great-grandparents but they came over from Norway. Living in our area you assume most of us are from the German-Norwegian-Scandinavian descent, a good bulk of my friends were growing up. Then I met Erik who is almost 100% Italian. His stories of his family culture growing up were so different from mine. I loved to hear about his stories.
Italians are serious people. They are serious with everything they do. At his holiday dinners he can remember the men all gathered around the table for a couple of days watching the women cook. They would roll out the dough to make all of their ravioli's, homemade spaghetti noodles and meatballs, and Italian breads. Which would be served along a turkey, ham, and all the American holiday fixings. The women would place their hands in boiling hot water to make sure the noodles were not sticking speaking jubilant Italian the entire time. Boiling hot water.
Once they were ready to serve, all the men claimed their spot around the same table they had been sitting at for days and would be served. Then there duty was to literally eat all day long. He explained to me that they would start at 11 am and end at 5 pm. Everything is served in courses and if you did not literally eat everything on your plate the women were offended. My mother-in-law told me that she thought she was going to split her pants the first holiday she ate with them. Once you are done with the main courses you follow it up with Italian pastries, cookies, and coffee. Then they would share a nice bottle of vino. Then you would start all over again.
I have always wished I could have been a part of one of these dinners. Of course to actually try authentic Italian (love ya Speak Easy) but to be a witness to this family dynamic. I can just picture all these little Italian women bustling around the kitchen (they were all 4'8" or less) and the men sitting there rattling them with remarks. Erik told me that they would all wear matching white and red checked aprons with their hair pinned up high on their heads.
Josephine has has Alzheimer's for many years now. They never placed her in an assisted living facility. They took out her beloved stove and anything else that could hurt her. Her only daughter has cared for her everyday. She has fed her each meal, given each bath, and comforted her when she is not sure where she is.
Even thought I have never had the pleasure of meeting Josephine I am very sad. You can feel this strong Italian family waver in their strength because this little woman had a heart of gold. It is time for her to go meet her beloved husband and sons that have gone before her. I wish her a safe journey. I want her to know that it is okay to go because even though I do not know how to roll out a ravioli from scratch I will make sure that all of her boys here are well taken care of. Love you Great-Grandma Josephine Tortorice.
Erik's parents moved to Fargo-Moorhead when he was just a baby. The rest of his family has remained in Colorado. Erik's great-grandparents came here from Italy. From what I understand his great-grandfather was a farmhand and he fell for the the farmer's daughter. I think a story that is very similar to my great-grandparents but they came over from Norway. Living in our area you assume most of us are from the German-Norwegian-Scandinavian descent, a good bulk of my friends were growing up. Then I met Erik who is almost 100% Italian. His stories of his family culture growing up were so different from mine. I loved to hear about his stories.
Italians are serious people. They are serious with everything they do. At his holiday dinners he can remember the men all gathered around the table for a couple of days watching the women cook. They would roll out the dough to make all of their ravioli's, homemade spaghetti noodles and meatballs, and Italian breads. Which would be served along a turkey, ham, and all the American holiday fixings. The women would place their hands in boiling hot water to make sure the noodles were not sticking speaking jubilant Italian the entire time. Boiling hot water.
Once they were ready to serve, all the men claimed their spot around the same table they had been sitting at for days and would be served. Then there duty was to literally eat all day long. He explained to me that they would start at 11 am and end at 5 pm. Everything is served in courses and if you did not literally eat everything on your plate the women were offended. My mother-in-law told me that she thought she was going to split her pants the first holiday she ate with them. Once you are done with the main courses you follow it up with Italian pastries, cookies, and coffee. Then they would share a nice bottle of vino. Then you would start all over again.
I have always wished I could have been a part of one of these dinners. Of course to actually try authentic Italian (love ya Speak Easy) but to be a witness to this family dynamic. I can just picture all these little Italian women bustling around the kitchen (they were all 4'8" or less) and the men sitting there rattling them with remarks. Erik told me that they would all wear matching white and red checked aprons with their hair pinned up high on their heads.
Josephine has has Alzheimer's for many years now. They never placed her in an assisted living facility. They took out her beloved stove and anything else that could hurt her. Her only daughter has cared for her everyday. She has fed her each meal, given each bath, and comforted her when she is not sure where she is.
Even thought I have never had the pleasure of meeting Josephine I am very sad. You can feel this strong Italian family waver in their strength because this little woman had a heart of gold. It is time for her to go meet her beloved husband and sons that have gone before her. I wish her a safe journey. I want her to know that it is okay to go because even though I do not know how to roll out a ravioli from scratch I will make sure that all of her boys here are well taken care of. Love you Great-Grandma Josephine Tortorice.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Woah baby!
Tis the season for babies! I swear I know more pregnant women right now or have a good friend that just had a baby, old co-workers, or little cousins. Babies everywhere! I LOVE IT! Erik keeps telling me to not get any ideas. I keep telling Alex that he is my baby. He says,"No Mommy, I am your schmoops." Yes you are little man, yes you are.
The boys have been in a good streak lately. Playing well together and going off on their own without any screams of pain 10 minutes in. Some of my proudest moments are when I see Anthony divert Alex's attention to appease him or when I hear him say,"C'mon little buddy." Alex follows like a little duck following the mother hen. Anthony has caught on to the fact that if he tells Alex that he wants to play with something he can intercept the toy that Alex is playing with that he really wanted in the first place.
I have an application on my phone that when you talk into it a parrot echoes what you just said (it is a must for kids if you have a market on your phone). The three of us literally rolled around my bed for a good 45 minutes playing with it last night. I can honestly say that I don't think I have heard Alex laugh that hard before. It felt good to live in the moment, not care that I needed to change the laundry around or that our cereal from supper was still disintegrating on the counter-top. Besides when a parrot talks back to you singing "We Will Rock You" life is good!
Cereal-now that is a great invention! Especially with how hot it has been. Last night we had cereal followed by these new Popsicle that I found that are 100% fruit with no sugar. Very sensible supper. Erik came home starving after work and I told him to take his pick of Cheerios, Crispix, or Honey Bunches of Oats. He was really thrilled!
This weekend we are going to Baudette for a Capouch family reunion. I am sure I will have plenty of stories to share after being with my dad and his 11 siblings plus their families for the weekend. Not to mention some of his cousins that I swear come out of the back woods of Arkansas to come to keep the keg company because they literally never leave its side. But there is a silver lining because my little cousin Mallory just had baby Max, they will be staying with my parents as well. She is my first cousin to have a baby after me and I am so excited!
Hope this finds you all doing well. Amy, I wish I could make it to your shower. I will make it up to my little godchild-don't you worry. I am off to Pout today to buy gifts for all these sweet babies that are coming or have arrived into the world. God bless all you little babies.
The boys have been in a good streak lately. Playing well together and going off on their own without any screams of pain 10 minutes in. Some of my proudest moments are when I see Anthony divert Alex's attention to appease him or when I hear him say,"C'mon little buddy." Alex follows like a little duck following the mother hen. Anthony has caught on to the fact that if he tells Alex that he wants to play with something he can intercept the toy that Alex is playing with that he really wanted in the first place.
I have an application on my phone that when you talk into it a parrot echoes what you just said (it is a must for kids if you have a market on your phone). The three of us literally rolled around my bed for a good 45 minutes playing with it last night. I can honestly say that I don't think I have heard Alex laugh that hard before. It felt good to live in the moment, not care that I needed to change the laundry around or that our cereal from supper was still disintegrating on the counter-top. Besides when a parrot talks back to you singing "We Will Rock You" life is good!
Cereal-now that is a great invention! Especially with how hot it has been. Last night we had cereal followed by these new Popsicle that I found that are 100% fruit with no sugar. Very sensible supper. Erik came home starving after work and I told him to take his pick of Cheerios, Crispix, or Honey Bunches of Oats. He was really thrilled!
This weekend we are going to Baudette for a Capouch family reunion. I am sure I will have plenty of stories to share after being with my dad and his 11 siblings plus their families for the weekend. Not to mention some of his cousins that I swear come out of the back woods of Arkansas to come to keep the keg company because they literally never leave its side. But there is a silver lining because my little cousin Mallory just had baby Max, they will be staying with my parents as well. She is my first cousin to have a baby after me and I am so excited!
Hope this finds you all doing well. Amy, I wish I could make it to your shower. I will make it up to my little godchild-don't you worry. I am off to Pout today to buy gifts for all these sweet babies that are coming or have arrived into the world. God bless all you little babies.
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