Scene from an Italian Restaurant

So it started out that Mom asked if we wanted to go to Olive Garden to use the gift card they gave us over the holidays... Next thing I know, we are getting a table for 12 !!!  Well, it turned out to be a really nice evening! The kids were both great, and the food was as yummy as ever.  I am hopelessly hooked on their Chicken & Gnocci soup!

 Most of our crew. Mom & Dad, Margie & Charlie, Baby James, Linda & Tony & Tom & Rita!  We scared the staff when we walked in, I think!

 We had 2 people waiting on our group... BUT... one was beastly & we actually complained to the other one and he ended up taking over the whole table... perfect!

Mom was already testing out her cruising hat!  (They are leaving for their vacation in the morning!)

Play the Game

Today was Dad's Bocci Picnic.  Rach had a blast playing on the slide & swings with "Luna Linda" (we still can't figure out how she came up with that nickname for Linda!) & her Papa too!!!

Believe it or not, it was PAPA'S idea for the two of them to put their heads in the holes!!!  I even have proof on video of him telling us of his plan! 

After the picnic, we went home for a little bit of a nap!  Then it was time for an evening bike ride with her best bud Baby James!

 These 2 are just way too adorable together. They give each other the cutest hugs & kisses!  But Rach tends to boss James around just a bit!

After just a couple of evening rides, she is now a real little expert!
She even knows to move onto the grass to wait for passing cars! 

Saturday in The Park

So Rachel just came up to me this morning & said she wanted to do more "Work" at getting her picture taken (For those who don't know, she had one modeling job a month or so ago for a boutique, and was not terribly cooperative when it came to taking those pictures!)
Well, she only wanted to pose for me and take a few fun pictures, so, we did!!

She had fun & was ready for more... it was time to pack up & join Aunt Margie, Nessy & Baby James for a picnic at Four Freedoms Park!  It was a great way to spend the afternoon! The kids had a blast playing on the playground, and of course, they LOVED their peanut butter & jelly sandwiches! So did the local wildlife!

Give Ireland Back To The Irish

Since Thursday was St Patrick's Day, we decided to have our big Boiled Dinner on Sunday (so we could all enjoy it together, instead of leftover!).  Margie & Charlie came with their grandson James, and Mom & Dad came too! 
Dinner turned out totally yummy, if I must say so myself!  Tommy also made a delicious "Kitchenette Cake" from one of his antique cookbooks.

 Rachel was SO glad to have Baby James over to play with!  She was so happy, she even let James drive her car, and thanks to Aunt Margie they figured out how to turn the car into a 2 seater!

 Our happy little couple had their own special table, and enjoyed eating together.  Rachel was too funny, playing the little mother, telling James to eat his dinner.  I should have James over more often! We didn't have to fight with her to eat half as much as we usually do for dinner!  After all, she had to set a good example, right?  Haha 

You Need a Hug

Today we spent some time with Aunt Margie & her Grandkids, Baby J & Christopher!  Rachel had a blast, playing under the hose and running around with the boys.  She also did the cutest thing and thank goodness I got in on video!  Baby J was getting a little rough with his little brother, and made him cry.  Well, Rachel does NOT like to see anyone crying... so she went to Christopher to console him... watch the video & you will see the cute moment!

 The kids had a ball while Margie squirted them with the hose. The boys were climbing in & out of that bucket... Rach didn't want to get THAT wet... LOL...

 Ok, time to teach my daughter about the rules of being a GIRLIE girl... This AIN'T IT!

 Rachel's first car date?  I don't THINK so! LOL...

 Ok, so maybe she was having just a TEENY bit of fun, huh?

Besides playing on the lanai, the kids were running around in the yard, playing with as many toys as they could, and playing hose with Aunt Margie!  Rachel refused to take off her sneakers & socks (she actually listened to me for a change!! ) so her little feet were a bit pruney by the time we got home, but she had way too much fun to care!

(oh yes it's) Ladies Night

Every month, I get together with an awesome group of ladies, and we have our "Meeting of the Minds".  We generally do something special around Christmas time, but this year because of all the garbage with me going up north & just the timing in general, we decided to have a special ladies night at the Melting Pot restaurant.  They have a Ladies night every month, so we decided to splurge just this once... we  had a BLAST.  I arrived a wee bit late, since I had to drop the munchkin off at her Nana & Papa's house, but I arrived in plenty of time to enjoy the first course of standard cheese fondue!



Nancy even won a door prize of a bottle of wine!  WOOHOO!  (She tried to get them to exchange it for her favorite White Zin, but they couldn't... oh well)

Kim & Rita enjoying their Dark Chocolate Dessert fondue.  Nancy shared with them, while Donna & I went to town on the WHITE chocolate... YUMMMMMMMM.... we both agreed the fresh jumbo Strawberries were the best!

Just a few random shots... Spread over a couple of days... yes, it's cheating, but I keep forgetting to update the blog, so this is an easy way to share a few of the latest details!

Here is our little ball player... she has recently decided she wants to be more like daddy, so she wants to wear a hat all the time!  just too cute!

This one makes me think she's practicing Karate! 

Gonna Buy Me a Dog

I am always posting pictures of Rach & her best friend, our cute pup Penny... well, this time I thought I'd post a video of Penny & her favorite past time... playing HOSE!

If it were up to her, this would be done every single day... but if it were, I think that mud pit would be ten times bigger!!

I'm also posting some pictures of Rachel & Penny cuddling.  They are truly the best of friends!

Penny gets her revenge... usually Rachel is laying on top of her... this time, the roles are reversed!  It seems Rachel makes a nice comfy pillow!

Silly Girl

Today was just a day for being totally silly.  

Rachel wanted to play goofy little games today, hanging upside like a monkey... 

Doing anything she could do to just be funny, crazy, & FUN!

 

Wearing Dora Stickers

Just the perfect day for silly, happy, funny kids to be their silliest...

New Year's Day

Xin Nian Kuai Le (Happy New Year)

It's Chinese New Year, so tonight we all got dressed in our Chinese clothing to go out for dinner to a new restaurant we found.  Very disappointed to realize that there were no CNY celebrations going on anywhere locally.  We had thought at least one of the Chinese restaurants in town would have done something special, but we made our own good time... 


Traditionally served on CNY, we had Peking Duck.  We also all shared a Pu Pu Platter (so we could sample a variety of things from this new prospective eating establishment!) and we had Moo Shu Pork.  The staff was VERY nice & so interested in our little Rachel.  Before we left, the manager handed her a red envelope with a $2 bill in it.  She was VERY excited, of course! 

She also couldn't wait till we were outside so she could get her picture taken! (Her daddy took one of she & I together, but my head got chopped off! LOL)


I couldn't get over just how grown up my little princess looked!

She's growing up to be a beautiful young lady.  TOO SOON!!!!