My cousin Amy Ruggieri and Me

This year for Halloween our kids have had a really difficult time deciding on what they want to be. I don't remember as I child getting to choose. For example, when I was in second grade my mom made me be a SKUNK! Do you think I wanted to be a skunk? No, I didn't. I was thinking about something more along the lines of a beautiful pink princess with a bright pink sparkling wand. I remember my mom working really hard on my skunk costume and sewing for hours at night. She also sewed a fluffy white rabbit costume for my little brother, Seth, and other costumes for my older brothers. The more she sewed the more distant my dreams of being a princess faded. I didn't say a word. Then they day of the Midway Elementary School Halloween Parade came. I remember hesitantly walking into the bathroom to change. As I reached the door, my mom handed me a beautiful glass perfume bottle with a long tassel. She said, "if you want, you can just squirt perfume along the way". I thought I was going to die of embarrasment! I held back tears until the door closed and then I sobbed. It took me some time, along with a few encouraging words from my school teacher to compose myself, but I did resurface as a "skunk"... painted face and all. I guess I figured, "oh well... I have no choice. Let's do it!". By the way, I won the award for the best costume that year and by the end of the parade I loved my costume.

Sock Monkeys!

While Tyler and I were in New York, Cecily, Francesca, and Isabella got to make sock monkeys with some of their "girl cousins" while the boys went to a BYU game. I think they turned out so cute!

the city that doesn't sleep

Tyler and I just got home from a wonderful trip with mom and dad Thompson. It was so much fun to take a break from "real life" and head to one of our favorite cities. Of course, we had to miss our plane on the way there... it just wouldn't have felt right if we'd actually made our flight. It seems to be an unusual tradition that we have. However, once we were on our way it was blissful and relaxing.

My mom and Tabatha (my cousin) stayed at our house and took care of our kids while we were gone. It was quite a complex process getting all of our kids to realize that they were going to be okay without me for a couple of days. They had a great time though and loved being with Noni. She cooked for them the entire time and had activities planned.

Once we met up with mom and dad we never stopped having fun. We saw two plays, In The Heights, and West Side Story. In The Heights was incredible! The music and dancing were wonderful! We ate awesome food! We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, which was really cool. We even went to the Yankee vs. Red Sox game. We just really enjoyed being together and being back in a city. It was an incredible trip!

Thanks so much Mom and Dad !

"Brooklyn Bridge"

"The Game"

"The Bus"

We had to take this picture of me in front of a "double decker bus" because every time we talked to Finnegan on the phone he wanted to know if we had gotten to ride on one yet. He was so sweet and so excited for us to do this.

Flag football... something new

Now that Finnegan is in first grade he gets to play flag football. It is so much fun! The best part is it feels like a surprise party. You never know what's going to happen... a cartwheel on the field, maybe a dance move, or maybe a even a touchdown !!!

Finnegan, you ROCK!!!

a boy's best friend

There are few moments when Finn disappears. However, if this happens I can usually find him with Lola or in his secret "boys only clubhouse" .

The First Day

I can hardly believe that all of my little ones are going back to school today. Not only are they going to school, but all of them will be there all day! Isabella is starting fourth grade and Francesca, Finnegan, and Cecily are starting first grade. It is bitter sweet... more bitter, I think.

However, as we all woke up today, excitement filled the air. Everyone had picked out their "first day of school" outfit the night before, four lunches were lined up on our counter top, four backpacks were lined up at the door next to four little pairs of shoes. Each item portraying a bit of personality of their owner.

As I watched my kids eat their breakfast I could not help but get emotional. Not because we have 180 days of this, but because it is a new phase of life. Our kids are actually growing up and part of it saddens me. I miss the "magic days" where we were all home, all the time, playing... no busy schedule, just togetherness. My mother in-law always says, "Time goes just like this (as she snaps her fingers)". It is true. Each day is a gift. I need to remember this.

The best is yet to be