Rollercoaster please stop!

Well since the middle of April I have felt like we have been on a rollercoaster ride. We got in late Wednesday night and my parents drove up Thursday. No my house was not clean and we had NO food in the fridge. Sorry mom and dad. I am usually so prepared.
So the weekend began going grocery shopping, laundry, unpacking(why when I just leave again next week), visiting Ricky and family. I thought I was fighting off a cold, but it decided to stay. I have been pretty miserable the past few days, I guess if it does not get better I will have to go to the doctors. I just pray the Brooklyn and Danny do not get it! I am so ready to feel better and to just do nothing I do not know when that will happen to much to do before B and I are off to California for 12 days. Oh the life of a mom always Go, Go, Go and she is not in school yet. I am excited for our camping trip this June and visiting family in Oregon in July sounds peaceful.

Our Punk Rock girl, see I have hair I can have a mohawk!

Sitting up all by herself ( for a few minutes at least)

Clara trying to crawl

Lucy being attacked by grandpa

Steph and Jake - look same smile

Grandma Etta put B to sleep

Happy early Birthday Uncle Ricky! Ricky was holding B while opening presents and blowing out the candles, she was not to sure about all the excitment from the cousins helping dad open gifts.

I took a picture of us, turns out I do not have many of just us together.

Grandma and Papa after church

Playing with my friend Garrett, of course before this picture they were hlding hands playing together. They have just discovered each other so fun to watch.

Dad can not rest when he sees a lawn that needs to be mowed so most of Friday we all tackled the yard at different times. Danny's pants were covered in grass and dad was mowing with a heat pack on his neck, they were serious about getting the yard done.

Going home to say Goodbye

As many of you know we were in California for a week to attend Nono's funeral, be with family, and for Danny to visit some customers to try and get more work. It all happened so fast we found out Nono passed away Monday evening and Wednesday night we were flying to Ontario. We had been up late preparing to leave, Danny was finishing up jobs, I was packing and we both worked on a little video picture tribute to Nono for the reception. Danny as always did an amazing job, we would both cry everytime we watched it. Great Memories! The pictures below are kinda in random order, but you will get the idea. Although it was an emotional trip it was great to spend time with both of our families and a few close friends. We were happy to come back home and sleep in our own beds and try to get B back in her routine.

Brooklyn discovered her feet and how to suck on her big toe!

Nana and Grandpa Karl taking B for a walk around the yard.

Cousin Jason and very jealous Luke, B had no fear of the dog.

Aunt Carmela, Nana and B

The Aunts

Jack playing at Jace's game, can't believe how big he has gotten.

Cousin Brian loved "the baby"

B felt right at home with Cousin Geno

Aunt Carmela and B

Ahh! Uncle Mark always happy to see him

The cousins and their spouses

Paige and B

Dani loves to be Brooklyn's babysitter. It's the chocolate and vanilla kids!

B is the only one that can wake Uncle Mark up and he won't be grumpy

The brothers getting all dressed up for the Rosary

On the plane to Cali, we only had one moment coming back home that was rough. They didn't pressurize the cabin in the plane and our ears kept popping so the last 15 minutes(which seemed like forever)Brooklyn screamed nothing would calm her down luckily it was towards the end.

Waiting for the Dermatologist - she has a strawberry birthmark on her back that they wanted to check out, all is fine it should go away by the time she is a teenager.

Day 2 of Green beans not really a fan

Remembering a great man!

The Licitra clan at our wedding

On April 20, 2009 we lost a great man in our family. Giuseppe Licitra, AKA NoNo. Although I have only been part of the family for about 14years now I have had the opprtunity to really get to know Nono the past 6 years or so. He was a wonderful grandfather. A truely kind hearted and genuine man. When Danny and I were dating I was known as "the girl" he would tell Danny with his Italian accent, "say hello to the girl for me or how's the girl." once we got married I was "the wife." Whenever I saw him he would always ask about my family and "my momma and daddy" He had only seen them a few times and had only been to the house once, but he always wanted to know how they were doing.

After we were married Danny and I were fortunate to be able to stay at his house for a few years to keep the place up and to save money to get a place of our own. We are truely greatful to him for that and have a good amount saved to put down on a house whenever that day comes.

I know that Nono was like a father to Danny and his brother Mark after their father passed away. He was a true family man and would get so excited to see his grandchildren and greatgranchildren. I am greatful that we were able to introduce Brooklyn to him, even though she will not remember the pictures will be treasured forever. Although it has been an emotional time for us we are greatful for the time we got with him and we know that he is happily reunited with his wife Nana and that we will see him again.

I will miss his stories (even though I always needed them traslated), his kind hearted spirit and the way he said "I try!" If we could just take one thing that we learned from Nono and apply it to our lives we will all be that much better of a person. Nono you will forever be in our hearts, may your body and spirit be at peace now.

I Love to Laugh!

This is a little video of Brooklyn laughing at her Uncle Richard. She thinks he is pretty funny. He was telling a story and she was watching him and just started laughing. It was funnier to see in person, you know its the simple things in life that amuse us. ( you can hear all of us laughing in the background)

Easter Weekend!

A hat that one of the volunteers at the Elk's Hospital knits for the babies, had to take a pic it is just to funny and cute!

Out little bunny B, we had a great Easter weekend. We went to an Egg Hunt at Ricky and Steph's Subdivision Park, it was cold that morning so I do not have many pics at the park. It had been a while since we had seen the family so it was fun to hang out for alittle while. Sunday was a beautiful day, Brooklyn and I got to sleep in! When we wokeup we went for a nice long family walk. It was so quiet outside, we enjoyed the sun and looking at all the blooming flowers. Then we came home and got ready for church. We got to spend the evening at Richard and Steph's having a great dinner and a little family time. It was a nice mellow weekend.

Brooklyn's First Easter! This is Madison Casida's dress that she wore at our wedding almost 4 years ago. So fun to have hand me downs!

Relaxing after dinner!

Lucy and Clara playing with the dancing chicken that Clara got for Easter!

Enjoying the sun on Easter morning!

This was one of the houses that we walked by, it was so cute. They had all the eggs on the lawn with beach balls and sand buckets on the porch waiting for the grandkids to come over for an egg hunt. It was so fun to see all the eggs shining in the sunlight, I wished I was there grandchild, it looked like fun.

Surprise! She fell asleep for part of the walk.

Some bonding time with Daddy!

Easter morning,reading a book Brooklyn got in her Easter basket.

She loves to play with Daddy on the floor.

After the Egg Hunt, playing with Hannah.

Lucy so excited about her PURPLE egg! That's my girl, purple!

Favorite Lucy quote: Gotta agree with her, after all it is chocolate.

Aunt Shan : "Lucy, those candies are called M&M's"

Lucy: "No, Yummy"

Nana's visit!

Nana came to visit for a long weekend, Brooklyn was not to sure at first, but warmed up and enjoyed playing with her Nana and getting lots of hugs and kisses.

Sorry, this is a long post with lots of pictures, but it was a busy weekend. We have started giving Brooklyn rice cereal, hopefully this will help put some weight on. She was not a fan of it the first time, but everyday it gets a little better. I gave her some last night (4/6/09) and she saw me mixing it and was so excited when I sat down she was kicking her legs and opening her mouth.

Day 2 of Cereal - likes it much better today

Daddy feeding me for the first time

We got some nice weather this weekend, so we took Brooklyn for a walk for the first time in her big girl stroller without the infant carrier she liked it so much she fell asleep half way through the walk.

Having lunch with Nana, Marin and Garrett. Then we took a walk along the river to the park. It was a little windy so we didn't stay out to long, but it is nice to finally feel the sun .

Here is a video of Brooklyn playing and laughing with her Nana. This was the first time that she laughed continuously for such a long time. It is fun to see the new things she discovers.