Tis the season to give...

http://theadventureproject.org/splash/

My sister brought this idea to light and we have donated.  I hope you do too.  We purchased lots of toys and clothes for local children, but wanted to do something abroad as well.  It's 20 bucks.  That's all.  You can Paypal it and feel good about doing one more good thing this Christmas.

B.e.ing Mean and milking it...

"MOMMY!  Why are you b.e.ing so mean!?"  I totally deserved that one day and started crying, hugging her, and telling her sorry.  YEAH, that was the wrong move.  Now I am always being mean.  Disciplining now ends in me  "b.e.ing mean", teaching her something she is doing wrong ends in me "b.e.ing mean", general conversations turn into "why you b.e.ing so mean".  Why does she have to be so smart...tell Mom she is mean in every situation and she will cry, hug, and apologize A LOT, maybe even give you a cookie afterwards.  Parenting tip #1,000,576, 345...don't ever, I repeat, EVER, let your children manipulate you into giving them cookies by telling you you are mean.

Example:
"BUT MOM!!  I want to move the fireplace, and move the chairs over there, and let's move this wall over there, and I need to move this table here (which she did--can you say freakishly strong), and then let's...(on & on she went)."
"UM, yeah, no."  
By saying no, you would have thought I squashed a toddlers biggest dreams in the entire world of being an interior designer.  She was devastated mostly about not moving the fireplace and proceeded to tell me AGAIN "MOMMY, you are b.e.ing so mean!"  I swear she didn't get any cookies!

Cool & Weird.

How cool to find that your daughter can semi-tie.  Her technique is interesting to me.

And how weird are we...we laugh so hard over the preschool potty, every time! WELL, it's so low and small...oh, never mind, we are just weird.

I love coming across old pictures and being able to document Ava's "I'm Mad!" Her Dad took these, which is proof he's really good at getting this look...

My favorite!! 

 (this was in april.  she looks so little and cute...even when she's mad)

This is her in motion.

 "hhhmmm, me mad!"  Head in hands, the angry crossing of arms, and then the lay down.

3.5 years

I don't know about the rest of you, but I believe our kids can make us feel like the best and worst parent in the whole world. One night I was in tears thinking about how "mean" I had been. I quote mean, because in perspective, I was being a parent and some things need to be said and done for their own good. Yes, even at 3.5.  In Ava's defense, I was also in a very annoyed mood, which didn't help my normal rational self. I could tell she went to bed a little sad. :-( I'm still sad thinking about that. I felt like the meanest Mom on the planet.

The next day Ava and I played together a lot (I'm sure I was feeling really guilty about the previous day and did everything to make her happy--haha, you know you all have done it, and thank goodness playing is the way to a three year old's heart).  Before school, she was hugging around my neck, while I was helping her put on shoes, softly singing a song about us being together forever. At that point I thought, "There will never be anything that will make me as happy as this moment!"  Now I am the best Mom!!! I want to be the best every day. We all know that can't, and won't happen, but damn it felt so much better.

Unconditional love is amazing, and to look back on 3.5 years...because she will be at the half way point on the 5th...we have both changed a lot. 95% good, 5% bad, but she is certainly the light of my life. I am so thankful for God finally gracing our home with Ms. Ava Fae. We love you girl!

Ava at 6 months old

 Ava at 3.5 years old...

These pictures put in prespective what three and a half years do for a little girl.  I know I'm partial, but she's the prettiest person I know, both inside and out.

Coming Home

With  my first glance, I felt like I remembered this piece of art work.  I let it go (too much money and I want a new pair of tall boots).  Dejan did not.  He found this listed on Ebay by an artist that was a family friend.  Norberto Martini...the link shows some pieces on display and for sale... http://www.firenzeart.com/opera.php?id=572 ... who has since passed away from cancer.  I remember him well.  His face, his laugh, I knew he told stories, or were they dirty jokes (everyone was always laughing and looking at us kids sideways), and I especially remember the day he brought each of my sister's and I a painting for us to take home.  I remember the excitement I felt.  Did I say thank you?  I don't remember.  I do remember I wanted the green one.  I still have that painting, it sits on display in the bedroom.  Italy.  Aaahh Italy.  How lucky we were to spend summer's there as kids.  For some reason the painting sparked my memory. 

 These pictures are from one of our regular nights out in Firenze.  Norberto Martini sits at the end of the table next to my Nonna and sister's and the beautiful opera singer, Myra Cordell and her husband, sit by me.  I'm pretty sure Ava got her ability to cheese it up for pictures from me. 

We had to get this painting.  I told Dejan he needed to show it to my Mom.  He forwarded a picture to her to let her know what he found ( i believe he really just wants a painting my parent's have, and wants to use this as a bargaining tool... :-)  ).  My Mom's teary voice when she called brought tears to my eyes.   "DEJAN, that painting was hanging in my Mom's store (Mobili D'Arte)"  This may not be a big deal for the average person, but my Mom has had to say goodbye in a sense to her roots.  Her Mom and Dad...http://www.mariofilippeschi.com/ (click on Le Foto to see pictures of all of them)...are both gone; the store is gone, the apartment is gone, the second home with maids is gone (except for the maid bell. she still has that, and we ring it each time we are home), a lot of memories have had doors closed.  Opera, art, boarding school, maids, Firenze.  It's like an Italian dream.  My Mom may beg to differ, but when she was joining me during a yard sale, I couldn't help but chuckle with her, over how she ended up in Iowa having a yard sale, after such a ritzy up bringing.  One single word, Love.  Does it every time.  Oh how I would love to ramble on about the story my Mom and Dad shared about their meeting this summer, but I will save that for another time.

After a late night bidding war, Dejan won this painting and it now graces our home.  It makes me happy to look at it, and also makes me happy it's a piece of my Mom's memories. 

Now where the heck am I going to hang that thing?

Dinner is served...

My Mom, the dreamer, started the fairy business at her house.  She has real houses, fairies, lights, and this magical door.  The kids are captivated by the whole deal...to be honest, me too.  My Mom taught us to read, read, read, and to dream big.  Reading can take you places you never even imagined.  She has definitely continued that in her grandchildren.  Thanks Mom! 

After our last visit, I get some pictures in my email. One is a scene my Dad discovered outside, the day after we had left.  I have always found such humor in creative play scenes left around our house by Ava, and this one didn't disappoint...I'm still chuckling as I write this. 

In case you are looking at this squinting, wondering, what is that, well, it's fairy dolls lined up for dinner.  Each was given a roma tomato.  Quite appropriate seeing as they live in my Italian Mother's yard.