Through The Years

2005:


2006:




2007:




2008:


2009:

Costumes

Tooth!

ToothWatch 2009 finally ends because my 'lil Jo Jo sprouted a tooth just in time to enjoy some Halloween candy!! Now if I could only get a picture of it...

My Aunts

I would study them when we were at family functions. I loved their hair, their eyeliner, their lives. They had their own apartments and their own careers! They are so different and yet possessed such commonalities that I admired.

My aunts were such an important part of me becoming a young woman. I love each one who married into our family as though they had always been a part of it. I wanted to be like them and that is how my view of the years I am in right now were shaped.

At my wedding, my stepfather and not my father walked me down the aisle.

My aunts stopped speaking to me.

I had babysat their children and could not wait to have a family of my own. So when I was pregnant with twins, I longed to share my experience with them. It felt so unnatural to not be getting advice from them, hear funny stories and have them as part of our support system.

Then we tried to have another baby. I had a miscarriage and was crushed. Did that ever happen to one of them? How about working with a family? How did they balance it all and make it look so easy? Some chose to stay at home. How did they manage?

We finally had James! Our family mimics the families I had idolized growing up and I still do not share our experiences with them.

I have been back home twice in six years and nothing is ever addressed. There are still family get together's and chit chat. I never knew my family was so good at pretending. My head is screaming...how could you do this to me? How could you have deserted me at this crucial time in my life? Don't you miss me? Don't you care about me? How can you not acknowledge my children? I have had one aunt reach out via card and gift after the twins were born and again with James. Those cards made me weep. Weep for what I was missing. Time that can never be replaced.

I find myself asking, why can I not get over this? It has been six years! Why does this still hurt so much? This past weekend, all of these feeling came up as if they were brand new. I have created a support system of people who love me and my family so why do I still hurt for what never was?

When I think about all of this, one of my favorite songs blares in my head:

Forgive, sounds good
Forget, I'm not sure I could
They say time heals everything
But I'm still waiting

I'm through with doubt
There's nothing left for me to figure out
I've paid a price
And I'll keep paying

So I guess I wait...

Seven Months

You are never fussy and yet this week you have been. So I rock you. Such a treat for me since you rarely slow down this much. I look down and study your creamy white skin, chocolate brown hair, sky blue eyes. I am still so amazed we made you. So perfect. I am so grateful to have you in our family.

This month your personality has really come out! You are silly. And you love to play rough. Once you are mobile, Thomas and Daddy better watch out. You love ears and dogs...and try to grab both! The great ToothWatch 2009 continues...but still no teeth. You can sit up with some assistance and you love to roll and bounce. You are saying "dadadada" and "nanananana" which thrills Daddy and Stella. Your two favorite people are still Thomas and Stella and you squeal with joy when they come home from school.

I honestly can not remember a time without you. I love you Jo Jo.

Pumpkin Patch

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2004:


2005:


2006:


2007:


2008:


2009:


Mine continues to blossom!!

Giggles

Exhale

We haven't had one of these nights in awhile. My mom spent the night and she always helps me feel accomplished.

Dinner was in the crock pot. Easy.

We found ourselves with some extra time between dinner and bath time. Tony set up a small obstacle course for the twins to ride their scooters in the back.



James wanted to watch it all.

The cooler air made everyone sleepy.

Exhale....

Smile!

James Ventura Pet Detective

Congo River Golf

Yesterday Tony took the twins golfing to get them out of the house for awhile. The only problem was it was 100 degrees out (it is October, right?) so they were hot, hot, hot.







There was also some gator feedings....what??



And also a place to look for semi precious stones:



The kids were freeeeee and it was only $8 dollars for Tony so I would say that we will be back:-)

Sesame Street Live!

UCF had a reading incentive program that if the kids read five books, they were able to attend Sesame Street Live for free! Tonight, Tony and Grandma Stella took Thomas and Stella out to dinner and to the show.



I was told that my sweet little Thomas couldn't stop dancing all night:



Tony even ran into a very good friend of mine that I had lost touch with almost six years ago and it turns out her son attends the same school as the twins. Such a small world:-)

Just Because..

James is Talking!

James has been doing so much talking. He noticed his tongue about a week ago and started making noises like this:



And then a couple days later, he started with the 'dadadada':



Now we are working on the 'mamamamama':-)

Gigi

I have been without my computer for almost two weeks. Yuk!! I feel like I have so much to catch up on! I wanted to post some pictures from Gigi's trip over here last weekend.





We had so much fun and I know Gigi enjoyed her grandchildren:-)