New Kitties

As all of you already know we added a new kitten into our home. I found Tinkerbell while picking veggies in Nani and Poppa's garden while they were out of town. Tay and I brought her back on the plane with us and she has made a wonderful addition to our family. I am finally showing her off to everyone who hasn't seen her.

Yesterday afternoon Taylor found a male kitten next to our home, he is just a tad bit bigger than Bell and she has named him Clover. I will post some pictures of him shortly. We are now a 3 cat family and Gabby is doing well with both the little ones but Bell is not happy about her new "nephew".

Our Busy Life!

We have been so busy this whole week and I have not had a lot of time to write. First, school is very time consuming and takes up our whole day. I will be posting Taylor's end of the month grades on her homeschool page so please check those out this evening.

We have been trying to get our cable/telephone/internet going and have had one problem after another. I will have a new email address that I will send through emails to all, we have decided to get Road Runner with our digital phone. When they first came to hook up our cable they figured out that our house is not cable ready and now have to install all the wires in our walls. They have been here twice already this week and are suppose to get it finished tonight so we are keeping our fingers crossed.

I also have some great new, Stephi is coming to visit and we are all excited for this. Steph is very scared of planes so I never thought she would actually do it, but plans are made and she will be here October 16th. She was planning to bring her friend Randi but now she cannot make it so it will be Steph by her lonesome.

Eric has been working very hard on bin locations at work and he doesn't get home until pretty late at night so the kids and I have been spending a lot of time outside with neighbors and friends. We have a couple new people in the neighborhood and one has a boy Jimmy's age and the other has two daughters that are 1 year and 1 month. There are many children around here but we have had a few move away as well. Hanna and Clayton played with Tay and Jimmy but moved to Orlando while we were in Kansas City, they have come to visit a couple time since we've been back.

We have enjoyed our outside time, the weather at night has been incredible. I enjoy being able to talk to some adults as well as the kids play with all their friends. After tomorrow we will be on our normal schedule with Eric being home at decent hour.

As most of you know from before we left KC, Eric has finally agreed that we can move back in April and I am thrilled! He told me if I came back with the kids we could move back when our lease was up and I agreed. He has not backed down even though we are back, but has continued to talk about it. This takes so much weight off my shoulders knowing that I will soon be home for good. Eric will stay with the same company as they have told him there will not be any problems with this, so only a few months and we will be home at last!

First I have to make a note about how proud of Jimmy I was yesterday. I decided to clear out some of his toys yesterday and I had him go in with me and I explained that Christmas was coming up and we needed to get rid of some of the toys he doesn't play with anymore. I expected a fit and every toy I put in the box he would take out, but no, he actually jumped in and helped eliminate the toys he didn't want. We had two big cardboard boxes full and Jimmy was very proud of himself. Taylor used to think those days were her last and it was very hard to get her to let me toss stuff, everything was her favorite toy.

Checkout the kids school pages, I have added new things to them and will try to work on them everyday as well. Jimmy had some big accomplishments today and Taylor aced a quiz. I am quite busy with school, I have to do house work on breaks and in the evening but it works out okay. We definately have a full days but every second I get with my kids is a blessing. Jimmy's day is anywhere from one hour to one in a half hours and Taylor's is all day long. They both had art today after lunch and pictures will be posted on their site later on.

I Forgot...

Taylor's blog address is taylormariew.blogspot.com. She really wants some comments left so just tell her hello.

Taylor got her new bike yesterday and will post pictures when I find my camera in one of the boxes. I worked hard on getting everything put away but still have a few boxes remaining, hopefully they will be done today.

Taylor now has her very own blog, of course, it is part of the chipnjimbob but she will maintain her own. It pretty much consists of her love of Chad Michael Murray and many pictures of him. She goes in search of his pictures on google and saves them for her posts.

We didn't get everything we wanted to do this weekend done but I guess there is always next, we are planning just to enjoy ourselves today and lounge at home. I worked on getting all the school books in place yester and OMG they are tons of them. I think between all of us there are over 70 books, it's crazy. I need to get a bookcase to put them in but found a place out of the way for now.

I want to thank my sister Stephi for teaching my children about piercings, I caught Jimmy with one of Taylor's earrings yesterday trying to pierce his lip like Aunt Ste's. He actually told me he wants to have a piercing in his elbow YUK! I hate all the facial piercings (nothing against Stephi or Nick) but I guess I am old now because I just think of having holes in my face down the road. I took my navel piercing out about 6 months ago and I am glad it is covered where no one has to see that I even had one. Navel piercings I think are cute but I am a mother of two heading into her thirties and decided it was time to say goodbye to it.

I will be posting some new pictures real soon since it has been awhile so keep checking back. Love ya all!

Getting in the Swing of Things

Well, we are not quite settled in but getting that way, I am staring at many boxes right now and feeling kind of overwelmed but plan to work on it this weekend. I hate moving and this time was no different. I love having Eric around again and he loves having home cooked meals. He missed the kids a great deal and said he was enjoying the noise in the house.

Tinkerbell (Belle) and Gabby are getting along great, which I am so happy about. It is great to have my Gabby back after all this time and she has gotten so big. Now we are a two cat family and everyone of us are enjoying it (yes, even Eric!) He tryed to sneak Belle to bed with him last night but she didn't want a part of that, she came back out to Mommy. :0)

The kids are adjusting well and having a good time. We are taking Tay out tonight to get a new bike and she is getting a brand new bed this weekend along with Eric and I doing some car shopping. How long have we been doing this car thing I just hope we can find one this time.

School's in Session!

We started school Tuesday, August 22 and it has been a lot of fun. Tay actualy started Smithville last Wednesday and has really enjoyed going. I will write on both the kids blogs so you know what they have and will be learning. I have been strictly working with Jimmy on phonics before we start anything else and he is doing great and really enjoying it (especially his flash card that has Pp, he laughs so hard at that one).

9 days and my husband will finally be here and I can't wait to see him. Taylor has really been missing Daddy and she is counting down the days. It has been 3 months since they have seen him and I know he is excited too. We are planning to take the kids on their first field trip of the year to The Kansas City Zoo where they have just opened Asia. My grandparents gave Eric and I a Friends of the Zoo card so we can take the kids to zoos anywhere in the USA and we really appreciate that. Eric is flying in September 2nd and will be here until the 6th.

Last Sunday Alisha and Izabel came to visit and it was nice to see them. Thank you for coming and I will get ahold of you once Eric gets here so we can all get together. I can't believe how big Izzy has gotten and she is sitting and just as cute as can be. Taylor and Jimmy loved having her and I don't think they left her side. You are always welcome to visit.

I also have a new baby as of yesterday afternoon. I was up in the garden picking tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini and peppers when I heard a cry. I walked over to where the asparagus used to be and found a baby kitten that was probably dumped (they always end up here). I would guess she is about 8 weeks and she was filthy and had a hurt foot so I brought her in and bathed her. She is the sweetest thing I have ever seen and so loving, I don't think I have ever had a kitten that wouldn't let me leave there sight. She follows me everywhere (unless she's sleeping which seems to be half the day. I love her to death and Taylor named her Tinkerbell and we call her Bell. I will post pictures soon so I can show her off.

The Italian Duo

I had to post this picture of Angie and me, I just found it and I am guessing we were around four. We were always dressed in matching dresses that were different colors and I think Nani made these dresses for us (I may be wrong).

I have been so busy lately and haven't had a lot of time to blog so now is the time I guess. The kids and I have been doing very well and have added to our family with a new beta Flash. Taylor and Jimmy's beta Bedtime passed away Thursday evening so I took them for a new one Friday. Bedtime lived for over years and stayed with Stephi and Brett when we moved to Florida. Steph brought him back to us when her and Brett broke up but Bedtime had lost a fin and wasn't doing very well after that. Flash seems to be doing very well and the kids are always checking on him.

We are now waiting on school books to show up so we can start school, which will be next week. Taylor is excited since she will have three different schools (home school, Smithville and Sunday school). I can't wait to start teaching them again, this year will be a lot of fun with all the new things they will be learning.

We are waiting on Eric's arrival which was suppose to be on the 31st of this month but something came up and it was pushed back. Hopefully it will only be a week or so later, we all miss him a lot.

Schools About To Start!

We are starting school next week and all of us are very excited. Taylor will be in 3rd grade and is enrolled part-time at Smithville for gym, music, library, art, any state testing and field trips. Jimmy will start K4, which is preschool where he will learn to write his letters and numbers and be able to recognize them by looking. I have decided to split their work into two different days, they will do so many subjects one day and the next day do whatever is left. Taylor would be doing school from 8:45 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. if she did every subject she had this year for the 30 minutes alloted to her. I will be posting this years schedules on their school blog pages so you can see what they will be doing this year. I will find out her Smithville schedule tomorrow and everyone seemed very nice up there and were very happy to have her join.

Updates...

Today is Nani and Poppa's 46th wedding anniversary, so first I will give my congrats to them. They are spending their day and evening at Harrah's Casino in Topeka and I wish them all lot of fun and big winnings.

I spent last evening with them at Isle of Capri Casino and that was a lot of fun, we played for hours, had dinner and played more. Nani and I did not arrive home until 1 am.

Tonight is a night for the kids and me and we will have a lot of fun. We will have a movie night, a board game and snacks. They seem to never be here so I decided to have a night with them. Last night they were with my sister and swam all night. They haven't even touched their pool this week, with the weather so hot the pool has turned into a hot tub.

Eric will be in KC around the 15th of August to visit for a week or so which will be great. I have been missing him pretty bad for the past week and cannot wait to see him. We decided that date because Nani and Poppa will be out of town for 3 weeks and I would rather not be alone here for that long. Chip will be starting school around that time and it will give Eric a chance to see what she will be learning during the year.

I just wish everything would have turned out the way we planned when we first moved and then we wouldn't be living like this. The kids and I should be with Eric and not have to feel like something bad will happen if we stay. I just want to be able to live with my husband and be happy where we are and now that cannot happen in Florida. I refuse to stay there, my kids are so happy being around the family that loves them unconditionally and I am not going to make them unhappy anymore. I want them to have what I had growing up, the strong family bond that has made each and everyone of us who we are today. I don't care what anyone says or thinks, Sand tore our family apart and I guess in a way she won, this is what she wanted for Eric and me, the only difference is she does not have my kids and she never will. She can keep calling Eric and wanting him to do this and that and demanding info from him but I will never let him go either, we may not live together right now, but we are still very much in love and that is the way it will stay. Our marriage is strong and so are we!

Good News

Eric gave me the okay last night to find us a home, yes, I said it, us! We will stay in Kansas City until he can get here, of course, he is planning a visit at the beginning of August but I may fly down there so we can drive some stuff back here and he can fly home. I am on the search for a house and a car. I will spend some time next week looking for a new car but I plan on having Poppa helping me with that. I can't believe he decided to come so soon, I am very happy. I guess his mom called him and he has decided to leave her behind, so she can't find him...a new start without the witch knowing how to find him. He has told her not to contact him but she does anyway and he said he's ready to just leave and forget about her...THANK GOD!

So now our perment home is bad in KC where we all belong. I told him yesterday I can see how happy it makes the kids being here with their family and I can't take them away again and he agreed. After our long discussion we both felt much better. Love ya Eric and can't wait to see you.

Homeschooling News

After a pretty big discussion on whether to keep homeschooling or enroll Taylor in the Smithville School District, Eric helped me make my decision, he told me to keep homeschooling. This will be a more trying year with several new subjects and will cost us more than last year but it will be worth it. I have a hard time sending her to a public school for that fact that I don't agree with what they teach them. These days they don't teach American history (Columbus, Paul Revere) all the things that are an impotant part of our history. They teach our children to be Liberals and only have a one track mind whereas when I teach her she learns about our country, God and the values I would like her to have. I even thought about a private school, out here in Missouri there is an Italian Catholic school where she would learn the language as well and that may be a possiblity later on in her life, but as of now I think it would be better to homeschool. With Eric living in Florida and us in KC it will be easier for us to hop on a plane to visit where we cannot do that if she is in school. I only hope Eric won't take long to get back home with us because we all miss him. He is planning to fly out in a couple weeks so he can see the kids and Taylor is really missing her daddy.

I have decided to enroll the kids in Sunday school up here in Smithville as well. I told Taylor this morning she needs to find some sort of sport to join in on, I don't care what it is as long is it's something she would enjoy doing. I have also offered music lessons to her, she can play whatever instrument she would like, I just want her envolved in other actitivies than just staying at home. Jimmy will start up on preschool again and be ready for kindergarten the following year. I have my work ahead of me but I am excited to go on this journey with the two most important people in my life...my children!

Nextel 250 Pictures

Eric and I had so much fun at the races and I would love to go all the time. I was so happy that my favorite driver (Earnhardt) was able to win the night I went. I am actually suprised I have a voice after all the yelling that happened that night. Thank you Eric for such a wonderful night and the best date I have ever had.

Day at the Lake (Part 3)

Grandpa Ky-Ky and Jimmy looking at fish.
A beautiful sunset to end the day.

Day at the Lake (Part 2)

Taylor & Jimmy swimming in the lake.
Taylor grabbing the broom handle while pulling
Jimmy to the boat.
My beautiful little girl.
Taylor helping Grandpa Ky-Ky drive the boat.
When nature calls...get the coffee can!

A Day at the Lake

Taylor relaxing on the lake.
Jimmy helping Grandma Paula Drive the boat.
Jimmy mimicking Grandpa Ky-Ky.
Jimmy really driving the boat all by himself.
Taylor striking her pose.

Grandpa Ky-Ky and Nani have been taking the kids to the lake with Grandma Paula and her boat. The kids love it and have had a blast. Thank you Mom and Kyle for watching the kids for me, I truly appreciate it!

I Made It!

I made to Florida Thursday and I have had so much fun spending time with my wonderful husband. He took me to Red Lobster the night I got in, Friday we spent at the races (Earnhardt won!!!!), yesterday we went to a movie and then Outback for dinner and today we relaxed at home except to pick up some lunch and go out for ice cream. We have spent so much time together and I can't wait to see what the rest of my trip will hold. Gabby has been following me or else right under my feet since I've gotten here, I started calling her "Shadow".

I miss you Tay and Jimmy and enjoyed talking to you this afternoon. I love you both very much and can't wait to get back home to you!