Summer...Summer...SUMMERTIME!!

Gabe gets 2 consecutive weeks off a year so this year we kept it low key and stayed home mainly. But we did make it out to Mentor for a day and went to our gym's pool a few times so we're a little browner! The kids enjoyed the beach even though it was pretty rocky. The next day we went to visit the Vincents and had a little visit. It was a nice 2 weeks off and the kids enjoyed having daddy home all the time and taking naps with him!

Having a sandwich at the beach in Mentor

Taking a walk

Loving the waves!

Getting water for the sandcastle

My little tan girl

My big boy

Mom and Dad

Pretty baby

Checking the well at Grammy's

Chloe liked Aunt Beth's spaghetti!

Family puzzle fun!

The kids are getting big and school is coming. I signed my tumbler, Vince, up for gymnastics. I think he'll love it.

Mia has officially moved into her big girl bed and we're working on potty-training. She's not too into it, unfortunately and doesn't mind being dirty AT ALL. The girl gets more of her food on her face then in her belly most days. One of these days...

Have a great rest of the summer everyone!

Winter time fun!

We've had an exciting month so far! We've been busy with work, school, Santa & Christmas coming. Seems like this year just sneaked past us! Where did November go?!

We wrote some letters to Santa and he wrote back! The kids were pretty excited, although Vincent kept asking me "What is taking Santa so long?!" So we made a calendar to count down for him. He's very excited to see if Santa brings the new truck he's been asking for and Mia keeps asking for "Cinderella!"

We went to our Rec Center's X-mas party and Mia jumped up on Santa's lap and started smiling away and told him what she wanted. You can see the pictures below. Vince wasn't quite as keen on him till he saw Mia sitting there and once Gabe threw him on Santa's lap he got over it; a little... The last picture kind of captured their personalities- Vince is being shy and Mia is being cute.

Well, gotta get back to babysitting, cards, cookies and packing for a weekend in West Virginia!

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Santa wrote us back!!

Wonder what kind of pudding Mia was eating?!

Vince took a picture of mommy and daddy- I wasn't expecting it to

really turn out so I look weird...

Dressed in our Christmas finest at a little work party for dad.

Mia doesn't smile much...

Vince making a cookie at the Christmas party at his school.

Yummm.... cookie!

"This guy is great!!!"

Such a cute Santa!

"Well Santa, we've been TRYING to be good..."

Vince's 1st Day!

Vince made it through his first week of preschool! Yay!! The first day was just an orientation with mommy, daddy and the girls- Mia and Ellie, for just an hour. He went through a little bit of what school was like and met his very nice teachers. The second day he went and was still very excited. He ran inside and told daddy good-bye. Daddy told him they would get some McDonald's on the way home if he was a good boy and Vince asked if he had remembered his wallet this time- he promised him on Tuesday too, until he remembered he forgot his wallet. Way-to-go daddy!

When he got home he told me he had cried a little, he said he missed Mia. I asked if he missed me and he said "No, just Mia." Thanks Vince... way to break your mom's heart!

But he seems to like it and sounds like he'll still go back, so here's to hoping! Here are some pics below and a few of Ellie- the cute, little peanut I started babysitting a few weeks ago.

WELCOME FALL!!!!

Can't wait for school

Always has to get a car in there...

Ellie is 6 months old!

Help! These kids have big heads!

Looking back...

Trip down Memory lane since this was started after Mia came along...

As our son is about to begin preschool I have a little ache in my heart knowing that we have a long road in front of us that we are just beginning. We were watching Finding Nemo the other day and I got choked up on the part where dad had to let Nemo go and trust that he could do anything he put his mind to. As excited as I am for him and I, I'm also reluctant to share him. He's such a special little boy and letting him out of my sight for 2 days and week for 2 hours is going to be a little harder then I thought- and it's just going to get worse!

He was always a happy baby and big like his sister. His first word was "HOT" and his second practically was "BABY" when Mia showed up in his lap at age 2.4. I couldn't have asked for a better big brother and although they have started having their differences, they still love each other so much. Mia walked up behind him the other day and put her arms around his neck and said "Hi, bruddur..." Too cute. He is kind, smart, loving and funny and I hope that everyone else he meets sees it too, I hate to sound like a biased mama!

But I know it's time to let my buddy go out into the world and make new friends and trust that God will take care of him and that this is the beginning of a bright future!

We love you Vincent Thomas Martineau!!!!!!!!!!!! XOXO

Vacation 2010

Well, we're back from a fairly restful vacation to Manteo, NC in the Outer Banks! We had a nice time after a rough start with Mia who had a nice ear infection making her really sick. The condo we stayed at was really nice and had a nice pool for the kids and I! I feel like it was bigger then our condo and had space for the kids to actually run which was great for them.

Uncle Jim visited us the first couple days and that was nice to see him. He always has a new car for Vince which puts him at top of Vince's favorite uncle's list. It also gives Vince HOURS of enjoyment which is my gift! ;) Thanks Unc!

We were so glad to have Grammy and Grampy come with us and help out. It made it more of a real vacation for me! Gabe was glad to have some more time with the kids and get play with them and love them. And they loved waking up and taking naps with daddy!

We made it home after a stop at Aunt Doreen's awesome out out in the WV mountains- have to upload those pics! Thanks Aunt Doreen and Dan!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer :)

Vince and Mia were in St. Jude's Bike-a-thon! Here's their medals.

Vince fell asleep reading this book- passed out cold!

Mia found the diaper rash cream

Uncle and Mia doing some beading in the condo on vacation...
A good choice for a 1 year-old!

Mia's Little Mermaid tankini!

One of the views from the front balcony

Going to the beach

Grampy getting Mia all wet- her first time at the ocean!

Pretty view

Grampy and Grammy

Mom and dad

The whole fam

Weeeee...

Missing Grampy

Kisses

Mia and Grammy