Jacksonville/St. Augustine Trip

The first week of December we trekked to Jacksonville for my nephew Logan’s 2nd birthday party.  Such fun!

The weather was perfect and all the kids enjoyed playing outside basically all day.

The happy Silva’s.

It was so nice to see the four kids playing so well this visit.  I think it’s the first time they have all really enjoyed interacting and playing with each other – so fun!  In a couple years when Luca and Blake join in it’s going to be crazy!!

Definitely a favorite photo. =)

Hanging with his Lita.

My brother let us use some points to stay overnight at a hotel nearby.  The only way to get four kids, two adults and all our stuff into the room is with a  luggage cart.  Which the children found incredible fun.  They LOVE hotels.  Sebastian even told us recently that for his birthday he wants to stay at a hotel.

The next morning we drove to St. Augustine to spend the day.

Sebastian requested this photo with the “water wheel.”

One of the main reasons I wanted to make a stop in St. Augustine is because I like to take my children to the Nombre De Dios Mission grounds to visit the Our Lady of La Leche Chapel.   This is a very special little chapel to me, and I consider it a pilgrimage to thank God and Our Lady for the blessings of healthy babies that I can nourish and care for.  Besides the fact that this is where the first Mass in Florida was said and that it’s been around since the 1600s, I love Our Lady because she is mothering baby Jesus in a way so beautiful, natural and personal to me – nursing her baby, Our Savior. 

I have visited this place after the birth of each of the boys, and this was Luca’s first visit.  Here is a link to more information about the little chapel.

We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering the grounds, letting the kids collect treasures, chase squirrels and just bask in the day.  It was perfect.

My loves.

Thank you sweet Mary for the beautiful birth and life that your Son has entrusted to me.  May I be a faithful and wise mother during this journey with my children.

The boys having fun…while Mami has fun!

 

Lately, I have had some commitments and fun things to do with my friends so Daddy has gotten to spend some time with the boys.  This is a bit of a mishmash, but you get the idea…

A favorite activity is bowling.

So cute!

Oh, the excitement…but boy does that ball move SLOW!

Daddy got to hit up the birthday party scene.

Daddy likes those parties though because he gets to jump too!

We hosted a baby shower for our friend Jessica at the house.  With lots of yummy things besides goldfish and juice boxes.  =) 

Jessica and Jace with her hostesses!

The Mami’s from our breastfeeding group.  So nice that we all still get together, even if it’s only occasionally!

Even though it was last minute, our La Leche League group hosted “The Big Latch On” during World Breastfeeding Week.  We managed to book the library (a little drama there because at first the secretary said she didn’t know if we could host our even there because *gasp* we would be breastfeeding and people might look in the windows!  Luckily, the library director knew better and let us have the room without further issue) and get the word out in less than one month.  Moms signed in as they arrived.

Little Luca all cozy in my sling!

Moms with babies latched on to be counted for the national simultaneous breastfeeding count.

I was going to be happy with 10 moms showing up. I was ecstatic when we had 28 moms, more than 40 people at our first ever event.  Woo-hoo!  Way to go Brevard County!

With Gloria and Jess – my lovely BF support friends!

My 30th Birthday and the LLL Conference

We had a low-key family celebration for my birthday at my Mama's. Paul made me a cake and the boys helped decorate it. They love sprinkles.

Matteo mostly wanted to take the sugar frog decorations off the cake the whole time.

He finally snagged one and promptly ate it as I blew out the candles. That kid loves his sweets!

Opening my cards and gifts. It was a great night, although I spent the rest of the week horribly sick with a sinus infection that completely knocked me out. I was so glad to be staying with my mom that week!

For my birthday I always tell Paul I don't want a gift, I just want to go on a weekend away as a family. This year's La Leche League conference was the weekend after my birthday in St. Pete, so we headed down for that. Here is the banner I worked on as part of the organizing committee. It turned out really cool!

At the St. Pete Pier for lunch. Nana and Papa came to watch the boys and Paul and I were really able to enjoy the many parenting sessions during the conference.

Matteo loved the "Drum Guy" during family fun night. He was dancing away and loved the drums. His brother....well, not so much. They are just so different! Can't wait to see what Baby G3 brings!

Drum Guy - always a hit at the conference. The kids love it.