Nico's World

Nico plays soccer for our neighborhood through AYSO. When he first started the season we were a little worried he wouldn't like it. He had some tears when people pushed him or he couldn't get to the ball.

As the season has continued though he is learning the game better and though he may enjoy looking up at the airplanes more than kicking a goal, he enjoys it and never says he doesn't want to go to practice so we are going to keep it up at least for this fall and spring season.

He recently got asked by a talent company to be one of their models, it was really exciting and we are still thinking about it but we've put it on hold for now because it would mean many trips to downtown Chi town since the agency is right smack in the center of the city. It would mean taking him out of school a lot, waking Gabe from nap a lot and affecting both boys and our family's life and routine. It's a scary world to enter so we just don't know. We got close enough that I talked to the photographer that was going to be shooting him for the comp card he needed to start the business and I just couldn't get over all that was involved. A four year old was going to have a make up artist at his photo shoot? What! So crazy so for now we are sticking to soccer, preschool, and swim lessons!

Nico does love to entertain everyone around him so we are signing him up with a local play house that does children's plays once he gets a little older. I figured something closer to home that was much more laid back would be a good way to see how much interest he has in all this. I think he'd love to be in a play and do some acting so we'll see how it goes.

Happy Birthday Gabriel

Gabriel is 2!

I feel like every time I turn around one of my children is turning a year older, can't believe I no longer have a baby in the house anymore, it's so sad! At least Gabriel still has his chubby baby cheeks and face, the little boy look Nicolas fully has now hasn't made it to Gabe man yet...

At 2 Gabriel is trying to talk more and more. He has no problem getting his point across words or not. Nicolas told me, "Mom, Gabriel is horrible 2's" I think he heard me saying terrible 2's as I was putting Gabriel in a time out one day.

He is a head strong little man who will do what you ask him to do but in his own way and in his own time and possibly with a little pouting first. He's actually a really good listener and direction follower as long as you go along with his way of how to do things.

Gabriel is our little athlete, he LOVES to kick the soccer ball, swing a bat, ride a bike, or anything else that involves sports and being active.

My favorite thing about Gabriel is his deep husky voice, I'll never forget the way he says Hi every morning when I open his door, it sounds like an old man! The first thing he does when he gets downstairs is to say hi to his brother and look for his Papa. He gets so excited to see everyone in the morning.

He knows a few letters and his shapes and colors as well. Papa is speaking Spanish to him at night but I haven't heard him say many words in Spanish yet. His favorite word right now is Mom, he must say my name 500 times a day, it's constant! Other frequent words are no dog, Nee Nee for Nicolas, Papa, All DONE, hi, bye, o, bug, boat, help to name a few.

He has brought a ton of laughs and joy to our family, it has been a wonderful couple of years watching my boys grow up and truly enjoy each other's company. I can see the brotherly love, even through the fights and frustrations they have with each other.

We love you Gabe!

Happy Birthday!!

Ita and Abue come to visit

Once we got home from Virginia, my in laws came to visit. I'm sure they weren't impressed by my lack of food and having the house ready for guests but I tried to get things in order for them. We ended up getting home on a sunday night and they arrived first thing monday morning.

Nicolas was attached to his Ita the entire time, he played trains with her, acted out star wars scenes and played a ton in the yard.

We went and bought some cookie cutters and a star wars apron and Ita and him made star wars cookies together. Gabriel and Ita made homemade tortillas together too.

Today they went to a train resturant, the park and then to see Cars 2. Tomorrow everyone is headed to Chicago for the science museam.

He will be sad to see them go home!

4th in Virginia

We made the hike to my parents for the annual 4th of July week at their house. It was a little harder this year since the drive time doubled from other places we've lived. This time we broke the trip into 2 days of driving. We spent the first night at my aunt and uncle's house in Columbus Ohio and then went on to my parents. The boys loved playing with uncle Roger and having a meal that didn't come from McDonald's or Wendy's was great too :)

Once we were in Virginia, Gabriel decided to quickly get over any fear of water he may have and jump right in on a raft in the pool with nobody there to grab him, luckily that went well but we had our eyes on him at all times after that. He is fearless!

Nico was super comfortable in the water and both boys did good on the boat too. Nico played hard with all his cousins and made sure to wear them out before it was time to go.

It was a very nice trip, the boys did so well in the car I couldn't even believe it. Each year as they get a little older things seem to get a little easier...

Gabriel and Dinner, Oh boy...

Gabriel doesn't mind making a mess when he eats, his main thing is that you don't do anything to help, he wants to do it all by himself, even if that means sticking his hands in his meal, or his face, instead of using a spoon to do the job. Good thing we don't have to pass his clothes down to anyone else, he is sure to ruin them all! No bib for this guy, he wants it all over his shirt instead!

Easter

Easter was an interesting day for sure. We were leaving to go to my brothers for brunch and realized we lost our dog Yzma.

After looking all around the neighborhood we went on to my brother's house and he helped make signs for us to post all over the area. Oz thought it would be a good idea to email my Moms Group and ask them if anyone had seen a lost dog. Sure enough a few hours later when we were beginning to lose hope a Mom friend of mine called and said her neighor was housing a lost dog.

I walked over and found Yzma playing with their dog as happy as could be, unaware of all the trouble and worry she caused that day. We were glad to have her back.

Other than that we had a nice day. Here are some pics of the boys at the Easter Egg hunt in the neighborhood.

Cubbies

Today my brother was nice enough to give us 4 tickets to see the Cubs play the Reds. Wrigley field is a place to see and experience during your lifetime for sure. I remember so well going to games there as a child, hearing Harry Carry sing Take Me Out To The Ball Game, and trying to catch foul balls that headed our way. When I was little, I collected baseball cards; they are all organized and waiting to be handed down to my boys when they get a little older.

We weren't sure what to expect, the game started right during Gabe's normal nap time but I couldn't pass up a cubs game, even if it meant bringing a cranky child to the game. Oz and I loaded up the car and headed for the city. Nico LOVED watching the Metro Train roll by us again and again. He is always amazed by all the tall buildings and crazy activity that happens downtown. Both boys sat in the car awestruck looking out the windows. Luckily Gabriel managed a quick power nap which ended up being just enough for him to be in a great mood the rest of the afternoon.

We parked the car and headed down the streets of Wrigleyville on our way to the stadium. Nico thought he died and went to Heaven when he saw the L train go right over his head.

Once we made it to the stadium we found our seats. The boys people watched, and jumped every time they heard the man yell HOTDOGS! Get you Hotdogs HERE!

Eventually we had to have a Chicago dog ourselves so we spent 30 bucks for 3 dogs and a coke! Whoa!

Gabriel had his first sip of Pepsi and of course loved it, unfortunately...

Nico watched the game some, Gabriel watched the airplanes go over us and made sure to clap everytime he heard the crowd do so. He even tried YMCA with the crowd! By the 7th inning the boys were getting tired and it looked like rain so we headed out.

What a day at the park, I look forward to doing this each year with the boys, making it a tradition for them, it's such an experience and I know seeing them so happy and amazed made my day!

The Guys

Backyard

When we moved into the house our yard was covered in snow, at one point more than 20 inches of it. A few months later and some warmer temps have let us discover the backyard we now own. I think the boys will love it this summer and it's great that we have a fence this time.

Gabriel has already escaped once out the dog door so thank goodness for the fence. I was upstairs making the bed and heard the doorbell ring. I went downstairs and looked out front and didn't see anyone but still heard the bell. I then realized we have a bell on the back door too and Gabriel was standing outside ringing it.

This weekend was super nice, we ended up taking the boys outside and roasting marshmellows to make smores, they were a hit.

Touch a Truck

Nico was in heaven today and Gabriel nearly was himself. I took the boys to touch a truck. We've never been to one before and now I see why they are such a hit for little guys. Nico climbed into a huge bull dozer, a moving van, ambulance, cherry picker, trolley where he and Gabe got to ring the bell, a school bus, and some other pretty huge trucks.

I had to peel them away at the end to leave but it was so much fun to see how wide their eyes got when they realized they were allowed to climb inside all the big "mighty machines" as Nico calls them.

Nicolas

Nico has been a busy guy. Right now he just finished soccer, started swim lessons, tee ball, preschool with a big international program coming up, a cooking class and VBS this summer. I get calls for playdates for him, he's starting to get a rather big social calendar, I'm starting to get a headache! I'm so happy for him though, he's been having a blast.

Gabriel

Gabriel is cracking us up lately as he's hit the 18 month mark. I LOVE this age.
Still not talking a ton but it's picking up, he continues to sound like charlie brown's teacher with half the things he says.
Words that are getting clearer are, Hi, bye, Momma, Papa, Backpack (he got that from Dora), Up, All Done.
We have the speech pathologist coming later this week to start evaluating him for weekly speech help in our home. I think this will help him move along with speech although I'll miss his little wha wha wha talk when it's gone.
He is so happy and funny. He's been running up to us saying HI! so loud and giving us a huge smile when he does.
He also is very good to help clean, he loves to vacuum and if he spills his drink, he'll go grab a tissue, wipe up the spill then pretend to blow his nose and go through it in the trash.
Gabriel loves to watch Nicolas and play exactly what he's playing which sometimes can drive the older brother nuts. Other times they play together so well. At this point they both go play in the basement while I can be upstairs getting dinner ready, it's such a luxury to have that time to myself.
We are enjoying Mr Gabriel so much, I'm getting sad watching the baby go and the little boy emerge

Barber Shop

A friend told me about a barber shop right down the road where she takes her boys so I decided to give it a shot. It was a total hit! Nico LOVED the barber and even broke out some dance moves to show him.
Gabriel wasn't too sure at first but after seeing a fish tank, trains, and a huge gumball machine, not to mention about 30 suckers to try out he was content sitting on my lap for his first "real" haircut.
When we were down the cuts were only 10 bucks. Nico left with a bouquet of suckers in his hand and a gumball in his mouth, Gabe had a sucker in each hand and one in his mouth. I could tell this guy loved what he did, the boys will be back for sure for the next round of cuts!

The boys helped make my birthday special. We started the day going to the mall so they could ride the carosel, it was Gabriel's first ride on one, he loved it! Nicolas wouldn't go on the animals that moved up and down so they all ended up sitting on a bench.
After that we headed back home for chocolate Ice cream cake, thanks Nico for picking that out for me! Afterwards the boys had a sitter while Oz and I went to downtown Naperville for some awesome Greek food and then to a chocolate bar for dessert and hot chocolate.

Christmas 2010

This year we headed from Chicago to a much warmer Austin Tx for Christmas. We stayed with Oz's parent's in their new home. The kids loved being able to get outdoors again and play, I sure enjoyed the warmer weather myself.
Nicolas was really excited this year about santa, he left out milk and cookies and went to bed with the eager anticipation I can remember having as a child.

After Christmas, we left the boys in Austin and headed for Huntsville to do our final move. The house sold so we were there to get it all ready for the new owners. After that we met up with the boys and headed back to the windy city. Once we got to our car the windows wouldn't even roll down it was so cold. They were frozen shut. We had to open our door to give the drive thru order at McDonalds. What a shock from the warm climate in Austin...