Tia's First Day

Look at that big girl! You'd never know she had been agonizing for weeks about going to a new school, and taking the bus. We read her several books about the school bus, had the "school fairy" come and leave her a prize for being a big girl, and so on. Still, with all of our efforts, she was a nervous wreck.
I told Tia that on the first day I would follow the bus and meet her at school so i could walk in with her. Well, that was a great plan, however these things never really work out as planned, do they? First of all, the bus was about 35 minutes late. I had decided they must have forgotten us and I should probably drive her. No sooner did I get everyone buckled in, the bus came rolling down the street. I told Tia she could choose the bus or Mom's car, and she chose the bus! All those books really worked!

Here they are waiting patiently for our very late bus

When the bus doors opened, she ran up and got right on! No teary goodbye, no kiss, NOTHING! What happened to my shy little girl?


When I got to the school, I had to stop at the office to drop off some paperwork. By the time I got down to Tia's class, she was already in there, and playing nicely with the other kids. So much for the picture of her getting off the bus and walking into her classroom! Oh well, the important thing is that she went in, she was brave, and she had a great day!

The scene was the same when she got off the bus. She bounded off, happily as ever. She couldn't wait to tell me all about her day.
I can't believe my sweet baby girl is old enough to be going to school 5 days a week, and taking the bus! Time flies.

The Fruits of My Labor

What's better than the smell and taste of fresh veggies? Fresh veggies that you've grown in your own back yard! Every day I go out to my teeny tiny garden and pull 4 or 5 ripe tomaotes, today I even found a pepper. The basil is out of control. You really don't need a lot of space to have a garden that provides enough vegetables for the whole family, all summer. This year I planted 3 tomato plants, 2 pepper plants, and 2 basil plants. That's it!

The girls and I have had fun watching the garden grow. It's been very little work, and a lot of reward.

School Days

I can't believe how fast this summer flew by. I feel like we did a lot, but it's never enough. It's been unbearably hot so we spent more time indoors than I'd like. Now it's time to get ready for the school year.

Tia starts at her new preschool this week and is a bundle of anxiety. She'd love to go back to her old school where everything is familiar, and where her baby sister will be attending this year. I understand her thought process, but it's not going to happen. Also a big, scary issue for her is that she will be riding the bus. I have told her that I'll follow the bus to school on the first day, and go in with her. Now she wants me to do that every day, assuring me that she will be nervous on ALL the days, not just the first day! Also, not going to happen.

Gia, on the other hand, who is 18 months younger than Tia, is ready to march into school today. She can't wait. We gathered up the things on her school supply list last night and put them in a tote bag. She very proudly carried that bag around the house, announcing that she was going to school. She got right in Tia's face and said "I'm not scared Tia, I'm excited. I love school!". She definitely has a different personality than her sister, but it also helps that she's going to a school she has dropped her sister off at and is familiar with. She knows the building and the teachers. No anxiety there! Unfortunately she starts a week after Tia and will probably be mad that she can't go yet.

So, we'll see how this week goes. I'm willing to bet that Mommy sheds more tears than Tia, and she'll be just fine. I just can't imagine my little Muffin getting on a big school bus, without me. Oh, we're growing up!

Gia's Wise Words

My husband and I joke that living with Gia is like living with a grown up in a kid sized body. She talks like a much older and wiser person, not a 3 year old. Here are some of the things she has said lately that have sort of freaked me out a little...

On our way home from Michigan Gia was asking what each of the water towers say. Each town has their own water tower and she likes to know what the names printed on them are. When we told her that the tower said "Schaumburg" her response was "Oh yeah, that's where I used to live when I was older". D.R. explained that she has never lived anywhere but the house we live in now. She adamantly said "NO, I mean when I was a grown up lady. I lived in Schaumburg. I had a cat and a dog. Then I went to heaven. That was before I came to live with you!". D.R. and I just looked at each other in a bit of shock, not sure what to say to that. I never really thought much about past lives, but this kid sure has me thinking about it now!

Gia has recently informed us that when she grows up she will have a husband and two babies. She says she will have a boy and a girl. She's been such a tom boy up to this point that it's so cute to hear her talk about life as a mommy. Then the other day she came to me with such a serious look on her face and said "Mommy, will you come live with me at my house when I get older?". I asked "Why do you want Mommy to come live with you?". Her response was a sincere "Well, when I have my two babies, I think you should come stay with me at my house and help me take care of them". I told her that nothing would make me happier than to help her with her babies, then I had to hold back about a million giggles because SHE IS ONLY THREE! What the heck is going on in this kids head? I just had to document that conversation because in 25 years I may be looking back at this and saying "Wow, she was right".

The other day I was vacuuming the upstairs. Like a cat upon hearing the can opener, Gia runs when she hears the vacuum. She likes to 'help'. It's not easy to vacuum when you have a tiny person holding onto the handle. In my head I'm thinking these thoughts..."I am just like my mother..I remember her not wanting me to help when I was little because it was too time consuming...now here I am going through the same thing with my daughter...now I know how my mom felt when I wanted to help...". When we were finished, I turned off the vacuum and Gia looked at me and said "You're just like your mother". Then she walked away leaving me standing there, stunned for a moment. Now she has me wondering if she can read my mind. I better be careful of what I think around her!

Wedding Weekend

Friday was our 6th wedding anniversary. We celebrated by driving 6 hours to Flint Michigan! Actually, we celebrated last month by going out to a wonderful dinner and having an overnight in a very nice hotel. We knew we would be heading out of town on our actual anniversary, so we took care of the celebrations early.
My little cousin Cassandra was getting married in Flint Michigan. We were so pleased when she asked Tia to be one of her flower girls! Tia's been so excited for months leading up to the big event. However, when we got to the rehearsal, she changed her mind and we were pretty sure her baby sister was going to have to stand in for her. Thankfully, she was just overtired and hungry because when the actual wedding day arrived, she did just fine. Here she is pre-ceremony.


The other little flower girl is Olivia. I was trying to explain to D.R. how we're related and it actually shocked me to say it. Olivia's grandfather is my second cousin! I feel old now. However, Olivia's mother is only 22 so I guess I'm not really that old.

We all had a wonderful time at the wedding. My girls both danced the night away with anyone who would join them. It was their first wedding and they sure made the most of it!
I really wish I had more pictures to post but as I've said before, I'm sort of without camera these days. I'm hoping someone else who was there will send along some good ones.

Today, we're back home and back to reality. Lots of unpacking and laundry on our schedule for the rest of the day. It's good to be home.

Sometimes Life is Like...

...a bad comedy.

Life around the Salerno house has been a little on the crazy side the past few days. Sometimes I think I'm living in a really bad comedy.
On Friday I took the girls to the mall to have their pictures taken. They turned out OK, not fantastic, but I did pick out one that was frame worthy. Then we went over to the play area where Tia immediately tripped and fell. She got a big mark on her neck and was hysterical. Security came to give her an ice pack. They asked me twice if I'd like to have a paramedic check her out! I wondered if it made me look like a bad mom because I said no. I knew she was just upset and would be fine once we got home.
Later that same day I told D.R. to take the girls out for some fresh air. It bothered me that they hadn't been outside all day since Tia had to rest her neck injury! They weren't outside for 5 minutes when I heard lots of screaming and panic. We found out the hard way that there's a bees nest in the leg of our swing set. When D.R. was pushing the girls on the swings, the bees became agitated and swarmed them. Tia got stung on the forehead, D.R. was stung on the hand. It was at this point that I considered keeping Tia locked in her room to avoid any further injuries! A round of Benadryl for everyone and we called it a night. We couldn't wait for this day to be over.
This brings us to Saturday. I'm cleaning the house, D.R. wants to mow the lawn. "be careful of the bees" I say. A half hour later, he comes back in the house, only having cut half of the lawn. Hmm, wanna' know why? Yup, the lawn mower died! That's just what we needed after our camera died! Supposedly these things happen in threes. I sure hope that's just an old wives tale.

Skip ahead to Sunday. D.R.'s hand now looks like an inflated latex balloon. Add to that, it's red and very hot. He's having some dizziness. I suggest he goes to urgent care and have it checked out. "Really?" he asks, since he never goes to doctors and thinks nothing is ever a big deal. Yes, I insist, and off he goes. Sure enough, it's cellulitis and the infection was traveling up his hand. They give him a bunch of drugs and instructions and he's on his way. That's the extent of his first doctor visit in 6 years.
Last night we decided to try to spray the nest after the kids went to bed. You would have laughed a lot if you saw us. D.R. was wrapped from head to toe in makeshift protective gear. I'm a little braver, and not at all allergic to bees, so I just went out with a jacket. D.R. gave a big spray, and then ran like a girl back to the house! It was quite comical.
We're not sure if the bees are still alive in there, and nobody really wants to check.
We're just hoping for a better week