Memories... part 2...

One of Ava's chores is to make her bed, and I desperately wish I had taken a picture of the first time she ever did it to compare to today's final product below. Today was excellent & she was rather proud (I'm slightly embarrassed about all those large toys).

It's amazing how determined she is to succeed. When she started learning to make her bed, we made it into a little competition; could Mommy or Ava make their bed the best. She would come in beaming when she was done...I naturally declared her the winner every time.

I look at this bed today & realize we are about to put this bed away for good when her twin bed arrives. This is yet another emotional step for me, although I do find humorous the things we mom's hold dear to our hearts. Her crib switched to a toddler bed, & now it will go into storage like so many other memories.

Emotions...

Yesterday started at 5 am & continued to be busy until 9pm. It was a long day for me & I'm certain it made me an emotional wreck around 4:30 when I had to leave Ava, for the first time ever, with someone other than family or her extended family in preschool. Mind you, it was at school, with people I am just now getting to know, so it was not that bad, but boy was I nervous. Ava was a bit nervous, too, but said she could do it for a little bit. :) I knew Dejan would be picking her up after work, & I ran into one of her teachers in the hall & asked if she could check on her... What the heck was my problem, she was fine!!!???

I wouldn't settle down until I sent a frantic text message asking Dejan if he had her yet!! He sent me the photo below & I had to try keeping it together, at a Legacy Foundation meeting, because I almost started crying when I saw her sweet little face eating a blizzard at the DQ!

I never anticipated, on week two of my job, the emotion I would feel about the time spent away from home.. That has been my life for five years, it's what I did. Only now, I spend just enough time away from that life to miss it. Who knew! I was so ready to work.  I still love my decision to work & the After School program has been a success; I guess now, it allows me to step away from mommy hood and appreciate things I had stopped appreciating as a stay at home mom.

One thing I learned about myself yesterday, I can really keep the tears back when needed...I'm usually crying all the time freely. I'm Italian, it's part of what we do. :)

Ava did great yesterday. She only got a little emotional once when I came to say bye, & that's because a LARGE bumblebee had gotten into the room. Problem solved before I left, & her daddy treated her to ice cream afterwards, so all was right with the world again. I'm once again proud of her & love how quickly Dejan got there to pick her up. :)

Every morning, there she is. I know I should put a stop to it, but I just can't seem to follow through. Dejan's out by 5:30am, only to be replaced by my sweet little lady (many days it's much sooner than 5:30). I suppose after some serious parenting fails, I can live with this one.

Mom finally gets to work

It's been five years since I last worked, and the time felt right when I accepted the position as Seton school's After School Program Director. I am opening the program from the ground up, & enjoying this mighty challenge to be successful. My first day was this past Monday, & who wouldn't love being in the same building as your child attends the worlds best preschool class. I was able to do tons of computer work, listened to music as I worked, was patted on the back numerous times, and was lucky to also catch glimpses of Ava being an independent little girl.

My family seems ok with this new transition. Ava gave me some sass on Monday morning when I reminded her of the help I was going to need from her every morning. Our "getting ready" routine would have to change. After sulking for half the morning, she suddenly decided helping & doing things herself rocked..."what else can I do, Mommy?" YAY!!!!! Watching her made me all warm & fuzzy. I'm so proud of who she is becoming, but, as so many Mom's know, it's also bitter sweet watching your children grow up.

Husband also gave me a little sass when I remind him I won't be able to do it alone anymore. He'll have to pick up Ava, he'll have to run her to swim lessons, he'll have to make some dinner sometimes, he'll have to leave work a little earlier a couple times a week.....GASP!!!! :) After a few grumbles, he's his usual charming, sarcastic self & says, ,"ok, no problem, I can do it all without complaining." Love him, but will I ever get a "no problem, I'd love to help" without the sarcasm!!?? I'm going with no. :)

This new chapter seems to be just what I need. I look forward to it's challenges, to earning my own money, & to making my family appreciate what I do around here a little more.... you see, the sarcasm is catchy around here.

The picture is Ava after she got herself dressed, made her bed, folded clothes to put away, brushed her teeth, helped pick out jewelry for me to wear, & finally, brushing her hair (which she hates). I think she pulled off a great look & was the best helper a Mommy could ask for...I think I forgot to tell her that & now feel like a bad mom... *sigh*.... will I ever get it right?

Ava's first story

"You are never going to believe this! Once there was nothing, no world, no grass, no dirt, no trees, NO people (I thought she was starting to tell me the creation story they teach at her school). Then, Mommy, there were 15 vampires walking around biting people & tearing up stuff (boy was i wrong about that creation story), then 15 trolls were flying around when 15 monsters came stomping in. They walked on only dirt"....at this point she lost me, I was staring at her in wonderment; wondering where the heck she got all that, yet proud of her creative, sick mind. :)

Cousins Rock

All the cousins (minus Sam-- he boycotts cameras) came for Ava's Spring Concert...

Four cousins get to spend the night together, and this is the point when the house finally became quiet... some chaos, some drama, lots of giggling, a few tears, a few 'just dance 4' competitions, egg hunt practice runs, high heels clicking around, singing, dancing, eating, jumping on the beds, "Cecca!!! Do Mamma Odie!!!", a few inappropriate things to make little kids laugh, & then it was quiet. i liked the loud, but cuddled in the quiet, on the floor, until all were fast asleep...but not before one kindly asked me, "why are you staying in here?" (Yamro, never afraid to speak her mind)  :-)

PS....that's the back of Sam's head on the left.  GOTCHA BUDDY

february funnies

hide and seek is more of a smelling game for ava. when she looks for you, her consistent remark is, "i can't see you, but i can smell you!!" huh!!??!! i start smelling myself while in hiding, then giggle so loud she finds me. i obviously had a complex, until she started doing it to other family members. whew! i'm not the only stinky one.

i asked her to please explain...

mom smells like perfume...REALLY!!! :-)
dad smells like the bathroom...funny, but it's his morning "getting ready" products she is referring to
nonno smells like stinky work...he has always smelled like a man who works with his hands
nonna smells like dinner...of course, right? my mom is the cooking queen
baba smells like the basement...this is certainly because baba always takes ava to get cookies there
deda smells like chickens...he did teach ava the importance of feeding chickens fresh picked grass

my dad and i both agree, kids have the best abilities in all senses. too bad we lose so much as we get older.

my favorite funny this time around, is from the other morning after we had a snow storm come through. she was, of course, in bed with me in the morning when she woke up. she looked at me super excited, and i was waiting for the "no school!!!" or "i love you so much mommy, thanks for letting me sleep in your bed, AGAIN!!", but instead she blurts out, "IT'S PAY DAY!!!!"

Yes, that's right, pay day.

We started a small chore list for her to earn money, and it didn't take her long to figure out how fun money is. You may recall, from a previous post, our ban from going shopping. She had obviously reached a point in her young life that meant it was time to teach her about money. She has worked hard at saving her money, and even bought her first toy (a barbie of course!), donated food to the animal shelter, and deposited enough money in the bank to earn two free dollars from the bank. She is quite proud of her money, and now, unfortunately, but hilariously, every time she does a chore she quietly says, "i’m really earning my money now."

that’s my girl. she keeps us laughing and adds such a sparkle to our days.


what's better than throwing a huge snowball at mom while she's trying to take a cute picture