Project Playground!

We have been considering getting a playground in our backyard for a while now.  But wow, are they expensive!  So after weeks of looking, we finally found one that looked like a good deal on craigslist.  It was in Titusville, so between Paul and my Dad they took it apart and transported it to our house.  The boys were sooo excited – but it would take a little time to get everything up and going.

Paul replaced the main posts and bottom of the structure.  The day he was ready to assemble his dad and Corey came over – it was not a 1 or 2 person job!!

The boys in the tree house while the walls and roof go up!

The twisty slide goes up!  This slide alone costs more than double what we paid for the swing set!

The big boys faces the first time they went down the slide. =)

Wow – so excited!

Luca had fun watching.

Daddy was still hard at work on the finishing touches to the club house.  The swing set part was next.

Finally the swing set portion was done and Paul started hanging up the swings.  The big boys were napping or I’m sure they would have been dying to get on.

Ah, ha!!!! Done!  Lots of hard work by Paul and the rest of our family.  We couldn’t wait to show the kids!

Luca got to be the first swing tester.  And it was his first time in a swing too.  He liked it!

Luca swinging for the first time.

When the boys woke up – it was straight to the swings!  They love their new swing set and club house.  Good job, Daddy!  I’m sure the kids will enjoy playing here for many years!

Random Pictures from the Last Few Weeks

Lots of brotherly love these days....well, except when Sebastian is practically choking Matteo or Matteo is holding onto Sebastian so tight and won't let go that they both fall to the floor. But it's cute for all of the first 3 seconds that no one is screaming yet!

My little guy is already talking and driving. Never mind that he is also in his underwear...

Matteo's first skinned knee. =(

Just relaxing at the playground.

Stealing each others snacks.

Really - he was having fun on the swings, but he was always making this scrunchy face. Too funny.

Blasting off!

They made themselves comfortable to watch the Gator game. Right ON the snack table.

With Uncle and Sarah.

When Matteo takes a nap, Mami and Sebastian try to do fun things we can't do easily with Matteo around. Like build really, really, really tall towers!

And practice using our scissors. I love the concentration mouth.

At girls night with my Orlando friends! So nice to see everyone - it was a great, kid-free night!

Getting into trouble....they had to pull out every single DVD and VHS in the drawer...at least they think cleaning them up is fun too!

Visiting with Friends and Family and School Update

A few weeks ago (I know, I got behind in my blogging!) Auntie Tiffany and Auntie Donelle came to Orlando for a quick visit and to go to a concert. I didn't want to miss a chance to see them, so we drove over and met them at the hotel and then caught a quick dinner at Tijuana Flats before they had to go. It was great fun and the kids loved getting to see their two Aunties that they love so much!

Next time I see my girls it will be for Donelle's 30th birthday celebration! We won't be joining them for the cruise =( but we are planning to go down to Miami to meet them off the ship and spend the rest of the weekend.

Last Thursday, Sebastian brought home the "Letter Bucket" from school! He was sooo excited, he never wanted to let go of that bucket! Good thing I had another smaller bucket that Matteo could carry around because of course he wanted it too. Our letter was "G" so he spend the next few days asking if everything in sight started with the letter G.

Sunday we visited the beach that is about 10 minutes from our house. It was nice enough, but the currents and waves were way to strong to go swimming thanks to Hurricane Earl out there. I love this picture of Paul and Matteo headed out to the surf...

Our good friends Scott, Tina and the kids all joined us for the afternoon. We'll have to do it again soon! Sebastian and Tina were great buddies jumping around in the water and Matteo had a ball chasing birds and playing in the sand.

Me. =) In mini-van morning errand mode. My life is so glamorous!

Time for school - and to take back the Letter Bucket! It's full of things that start with G! I thought that maybe, just maybe, Sebastian would be so excited since it was his special bucket day, but no....still the same complaints as always about actually GOING to school. But the second he gets to the classroom he walks right in, doesn't look back and has a ball all day. Then he is super-hyped the rest of the day because he has so much fun at school. Go figure....

Our letter bucket had Good Night, Gorilla, giraffe, gorilla, grass, glasses, girl, grasshopper, grapes, glue stick, granola bar, God, and of course GATOR stickers for each child in the class. I am sure there are some parents that REALLY don't like me now that their kid came home all gator-fied.....awesome! We also sent in green grapes for everyone to have during snack time.

At the part the other day (awesome playground 10 min away completely covered from the sun!) Sebastian enlisted the other little boys there to play airplane. It was so cute. He would tell them to sit and put on the seat belts and where they were going and everything! I had never seen him lead a situation like that, so I was surprised and impressed! I think school is very good for his self-confidence.

Sebastian climbs....

So Matteo must climb too. It's crazy, but he can actually do this stuff!

Peek a boo!

At the zoo this week....we went in the afternoon to see the Giraffes (which we now know are "resting" in the afternoon) and the GATORS of course in line with our G week.

When we strolled by these Gators, Matteo did the chomp. That's our boy. We are ready for football season - bring it on!

Last night, after bath time the boys started hiding behind the curtains and jumping out to BOO each other. Well, it turned into a great game and I saw the potential for some great pictures.... =) Now I hope my curtains survive...

My favorite. You can just see the laughter.
I love my boys, they are growing up so quickly and I'm not missing a second or taking it for granted.

Last Week...

So, Matteo is quite the little climber. He loves to climb onto things, especially chairs and tables. I think we are in trouble. Sebastian never did such things...

Made some play-doh the other day and since it was homemade and knew it wouldn't hurt Matteo if he ate it, I let him play too. He loved it and, of course, ate it.

Mouth full of play-doh and making a dog - his favorite animal. He can say "dog" and "duck" although they both sound pretty much the same. But it's still cute. =)

A couple weekends ago, we went and visited our college friend Jose and his wife Natalia, and their two adorable girls. It was such a nice time since we are all in the same place in life right now - and so effortless to just hang out! It was a really great time. We are raising awesome Gator kiddos!

Sebastian and Matteo dancing for Baby David and Arlene. They were both thrilled to have David visiting (specifically Sebastian). Matteo took the chance to hone his shrieking skills during their visit...I think someone was feeling like he needed to be the center of attention!

A happy milk face. And this is why I love nursing my toddler.

Last week, we decided to go to our regular playground to go play. Well, it turns out that they decided it was warm enough to open the splash pad portion! Well, I didn't know in advance, but really, how can you deny the kids a chance to go splash around?! Right?! So in we ALL went - with clothes and all. We had a great time.

Soaked and happy!

I wonder if the other people thought I was crazy....

The boys rode home naked!!!! But had a blast.....Those are the moments that I am so blessed to have staying home with my boys...