Summer Pool Party!

Before Papa and Nana left for Michigan we took Luca to Orlando for the first time and had a fun family day at Sarah's parent's house.

Matteo started getting more confident with his floaties.

Uncle and Aunt Sarah got the boys kick boards. It really helped Sebastian to work on his kicking. Need to get this kid in some swim lessons!

Luca slept through the fun.

The boys.

Breaking for watermelon - one of Matteo's favorites!

Sebastian "surprised" Uncle and pushed him into the pool. He couldn't stop laughing about it later. Silly boy!

The fam, Summer 2011.

Later we went to the Stafstroms. Fooze ball was a big hit.

Daniel even thought it was cool to hold baby Luca.

Matteo didn't nap that day. At 4:30 we were just playing and I literally look over and he was fast asleep in the middle of the floor. Poor kid! It was a fun weekend!

Camping!

The first weekend in April we went "camping" at Disney's Fort Wilderness. I say "camping" because I think we have successfully ruined any chance of our children ever enjoying actual, real camping - because "camping" at Disney is well....you'll see! But regardless, we all had a great time. Here's a view of the Camper and the kids riding bikes all around our site.

We brought a little play tent for the kids to hang out in and have snacks.

Matteo had a blast in his first swimming pool experience of the season. He loved it!

Sebastian was almost a little too confident at times. I think we will be looking into swimming lessons for this summer!

Primos!

In the evenings they have a big campfire and sing along, followed by a showing on a big screen of a Disney movie. The kids were excited to see the campfire.

Giving Chip a high-five. Not too sure about this, but....there he was.

There were several great, shady playgrounds and the weather was perfect. Such a nice time to play outside!

Matteo enjoyed watching the boats from the dock.

We rode the boat for fun several times.

Titi, Abuela and Mama.

Daniel and family came to spend the day on Saturday.

Here I am at 34 weeks!

Logan loved pushing Matteo around on his tricycle. Matteo did not love it so much. He is very leery of mobile people that are smaller than he is (ie - babies) of any kind. Things are going to be interesting around our house soon!

Matteo's "please rescue me from this crazy cousin" face.

Matteo loves cake! Lelo was making him work for it.

In the morning, they sat in the front and watched Dora on the mini-DVD player.

Riding the bus was by far the FAVORITE activity while camping. Sebastian is looking so big! Can't believe he will be four in just one more month!

Our family!

This swim noodle animal got everyone lots of laughs during the weekend. He kept showing up peeking in the Camper's windows and surprising the kids.

Matteo discovered it was fun to pop Daddy's bubble gum bubbles.

Abuela with some of the great-grand kids.

At the Fort Wilderness Lodge.

It was a fun and relaxing last "trip" of sorts before we welcome baby!

Grand Cypress Mini-Vacation

This weekend we went on a getaway. It was FABULOUS! Paul had earned a free night at the Hyatt from his traveling in the past few months and we decided to use it at the Hyatt Grand Cypress near Disney in Orlando. I had done a meeting there for work (before kids) and we knew they had an awesome pool we thought the kids would enjoy.

Sebastian was already in vacation mode as we drove to the hotel.

They both LOVE hotels. They are such good little travelers. We had a great room with a pool and Disney Parks view on the 10th floor. This is important because we wanted to be able to watch the Disney fireworks later that night! We let the kids snack as we waited for Nana and Papa to arrive before we lathered everyone up to go swim.

Matteo's moment of excitement when he saw the pool. He is running, as you can tell! The kid loves the water.

VIDEO - Sebastian on the Water Slide
(Click here if the video does not appear below.)

Love this picture of Sebastian and Daddy when they came off the slide. Believe it or not, Matteo wanted to go on the slide so badly that we finally broke down and took him. He was laughing with glee the WHOLE time. I got one video, but unfortunately it did not turn out. =( They had so much fun. We also recently all got new pool/beach hats to wear in the water. The kids are doing great with keeping them on at all times, yay!

A sun-kissed little guy.

We went to Ale House for dinner with Nana, Papa, Corey and Sarah. While we waited for our food, the balloon man offered to make Sebastian an animal. He choose a gator! Good job, Sebastian!!!

Sunday morning we went to Mass at the Shrine. The boys did great and we even enjoyed coffee and donuts after. It really is quite a sight what you see in a "touristy" church sometimes...ugh. But hey, at least they were there, right?! The last time I was there Sebastian was months old, so it was neat to go back.

After church we went back for more pool time. It was such a recharging weekend. We all just played, no work. Can't wait to do it again sometime!

Super Saturday - Birthday and Pool Parties!

Happy 1st birthday to Emily! It's so nice to be home to celebrate the "Round 2" baby birthday's with all my Orlando friends!

The super cute cake for this little lady bug!

I think I should give up hope of ever having a picture of all of Sebastian's first buddies together. Here is my attempt at a picture of three three year olds. So not happening.

After the birthday, we spent the afternoon at my future sister-in-law's childhood home for a pool party. We got to catch up with the rest of the family and with some old friends we hadn't seen in a long time. Sebastian is already getting resistant to my picture taking! Ugh!!!


VIDEO - Sebastian Swimming!
This is the first time Sebastian has really been more confidant in the water. Watch!
(Click here if the video does not appear below.)

After Matteo took a dive into the pool early on, he was pretty hesitant to get back in, but he slowly worked his way there. By the end of the afternoon he was laughing and splashing and having a blast.

Cousins!

Trying to pour water on Sebastian's head.

He LOVED trying to splash Daddy.

VIDEO - Pool Playtime!
(Click here if the video does not appear below.)

After swimming, we all went inside to eat and all the boys played hide and seek. Guess how many boys are hiding under this ottoman? Four, yes, four little boys decided that THAT was THE hiding place. So funny!

They enjoyed teasing poor Sarah's cat. That's his little paw poking out from under the door. It was all fun and games until Tyler got scratched.

Matteo, Sebastian, Tyler, Alex and Jacob. That's a lot of boys!

Brothers wrestling on the couch. It starts this early people! They are going to give me a heart attack, I swear!

Hugs for Tyler!