Swim Time

The girls patiently waiting for a trip to the pool...

Pretty girl

I have the remote and some fishies. I could just stay right here all day!

Can we go yet, Mom? Please!!!

Prima Ballerina

Katie started dance class today. She was so excited and couldn't wait to get there. Juli's in the same class and one of her good friends from school is also in the class so she had a great time! They do a combo of ballet, tap, and hip-hop. I'm not sure yet if Katie got Joseph's or my dance talent (poor kid) or maybe Aunt Karen's (that'd be good!) but either way, she's having fun! :-)

Pretty as a picture

Showing us their "moves"
Dancing Queens
Warming Up
Once we got inside the girls got to run around a bit and practice on the bars.
They were having a good time!

Katie helping Livi dance

Once the teachers went into the 'studio' (I guess that's what it's called, right?), the door is shut so the kids aren't distracted by the parents out in the waiting area but we get to watch them on TV. It was just so darn cute!!!

Juli's up first, then Katie

Check out Twinkle Toes at the end!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Katie!

Tonight Aunt Sandy, Juli and Livi came over for Katie's birthday dinner with me, Joseph, Katie, and Maddie. Then Grandma came over to sing Happy Birthday and Katie got even more presents!
(Disclaimer: Our dining room is being remodeled, hence the open walls and unfinished floor!)

Singing to Katie

Juli's happy to have a piece of Katie's birthday cake

The cake

Grandma snuggling with Livi

Our Lil' Party

Opening Grandma's gift, a really pretty winter coat! :-)

I think this is her look of shock because she got a "cambra"

Now she's excited!

Checking in out and ready to take some pictures!

Happy Father's Day!

James and Sandy came over tonight with the girls for a Father's Day BBQ. Katie, Juli and Livi had a great time playing on the slide and swing set while the grown-ups snacked on some yummy BBQ food. Joseph and I made pulled pork for the first time and it was so good! I can't wait to have some of the leftovers, :-).

Katie trying to go under Juli to get over to the 'drive'

Livi could do it easily since she's smaller.

Success! Livi takes the wheel!

Monkey girl!

My camera died since I hadn't charged it after the concert last night so I don't have too many pictures, :-(.

Happy 1st Birthday, Livi!

Today is Livi's 1st birthday so we went over to have dinner together and sing Happy Birthday to her since her big party won't be until May because Juli will be getting her tonsils out next time Uncle James is home. So we had a mini-party tonight...

Make a wish!

Let me just take a lil' taste...
Cake is goooooood!
Katie and Juli agree
SCREAMING Happy Birthday to Livi!
(and possibly the last picture of Juli's tonsils, LOL)

Follow me to the presents!

What's in there?

It's a bubble mower!!!

Livi and her present from us

Livi trying out her new mower

But it wasn't long before Thing 1 and Thing 2 claimed it as theirs!
(Look at poor Livi's face, she's like "What the heck just happened???")

She did get it back but the girls didn't give it up easily!

Snow Bunnies

About an hour after Joseph got home on Tuesday night I wound up sick and have been since so I've just been a ball of fun since then, LOL. I'm feeling much better now but not yet 100%. On Friday, Joseph, Maddie and Katie went to play with Uncle James, Juli and Livi in the snow while I tried to get some rest so I could feel better. Word on the street is that Juli started a snow ball fight by scooping up a bunch of snow and putting it in Uncle Joseph's face. From there on out, I think there was a "war". They had a great time!

Giant snowball, anyone?

Juli with her ammo

Livi and Uncle James joining in the fun

The man behind the lens, :-)

Joseph's new "baby"

AHHHHH, what are they doing to me???

Tasty Snack

Ready for the beach? Not quite... LOL

Livi and Katie manning their "fort"

Hey Kate, let's sit out here and enjoy this beautiful weather!

Relaxing in the snow

It's Tough Being A Baby!

Eating Cheerios and bananas and watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse really takes a lot out of ya!

Meet the Newest Princess

Tonight Livi came over to hang out with us while James, Sandy and Juli went to Sandy's cousin Amy's wedding. Katie had fun playing with Livi and when Katie put on her Cinderella outfit, she decided that Livi needed to be a princess too. So... introducing Snow White! :-) (The pictures are so cute I'm just going to post a bunch of them even though they're very similiar.)

After Livi had enough of wearing the crown, she shared it with me.
Here I am with my girl Cinderella.

New Year's Day Brunch

Our annual ring-in-the-new-year event!

The Mottola Bunch

Chris, Karen, Chrissy, Two Mom-Mom, John

The Moms

Hairdresser Shop:
Katie curling Poppy's hair
(after she said his other hair fell out)

Uncle John straightening Katie's hair

Supermarket Time: Katie, Maddie and Aunt Chrissy playing "shopping"

The Cashier

Uncle Chris crashed... too much NYE partying?

I told Maddie to smile and this is what I got!
So I told her it was going on the blog just like that!!!

Uncle John jammin' Guitar Hero

His adoring fan, lol

Aunt Chrissy checking out the blog

Coffee Klatch

Oh, look... Maddie CAN smile!