Just another reason.......

.....I love home schooling my girls! I come into our school room to find this love note to me from Chiara and a love note from Mayah to Chiara!  I would not trade it for anything.

 

Reid Park Zoo with Papa

We were so excited to have David's Dad aka "Papa" come for a visit this past February (he was even here for his son's birthday!!!!).  When we thought about it we realized it had been three years.....way too long.  We knew the two oldest would remember him, but we were unsure how Leah would react and we had a feeling Emma would be freaked out (she is going through her I only want my mommy phase).  Leah was not hesitant at all around Papa; I am sure talking on the phone and about him for the past few years has helped.  

We took Papa to Reid Park Zoo in Tucson.  We love this zoo!  The girls were excited to have him see it.  The weather was cool for us Arizonans, but Papa was enjoying the warmth compared to the many inches of snow he left behind in Minnesota!

David, Emma, and Papa.  She was a bit freaked out, but we made it work. 

The D'Amato men and our girls. Leah was not into taking ANY pictures on this day.

She did not want her picture taken, but she was happy to have her Papa here.  I love this shot!!!!

We are hoping it is not another 3 years before we get time again with Papa. 

Happy Birthday David!

 This past February we celebrated our favorite guy's birthday!  Another year older. Another year wiser.  When I look at David I still see us in our twenties...hard to believe he is heading out of his 30's!  He is going to get me for writing that! Ha!  He is a YOUNG and GOOD LOOKING 37 year old now.  More importantly he had his 5 girls here and even his Dad to wish him well into a new year!

 He had TWO celebrations this year.  One at home with us and his favorite meal0my delicious moussaka (a Greek dish) and another with my parents at his favorite BBQ place in Chandler.  He went to an outdoor expo with his Dad for the day and a three day weekend.  Not too shabby.

 

Leah and Emma looking along as Daddy opens his cards and gift

 

Papa enjoying the birthday festivities with us

  David has been asking his girls for a broccoli cake and this year we took him seriously....that was the cake he got!

 The gift from his girls. His half marathon in a shadow box! So proud of him!!!

You can read more about that HERE if you are interested.

 

Rudy's BBQ in Chandler...oh yes, I think we make Nanny & Grampy fans too!

 

Eating some ribs!

 Yes, Emma can always find a way to be covered in chocolate. 

 

My gift to my amazing husband. He completed his MBA and I had both degrees framed (the undergraduate diploma was previously framed). He received both degrees from GMI/Kettering University.

My parents bought him a remote controlled helicopter. The one he "always wanted".  Just proving my theory about who they love more! ;)

It was a great birthday for a great man. I am beyond blessed to be his wife and best friend. 

Much Love Babe!

My AMAZING Husband

The kid who was born with a hip disorder.  Wore braces on his legs.  Was told not to run-as an adult.  Has had a ACL repair to one of his knees. 

COMPLETED a Half Marathon.  Yes, 13.1 miles.  He ran. He made it. He is amazing.

Before

After with his great friend Ronnie

The gift I made him to celebrate his accomplishment

Fifteen Years Later

Every couple has a story. Ours is the best though! (I certainly hope everyone feels that way about theirs!)  I will never say that a long distance relationship is easy, but I will say that I am glad we went through it.  Going every 8 to 10 weeks seeing each other when you are "young and in love" is no small task, and of course this is before the social media craze hit.  No Facebook.  No instant messaging.  No Skype.  Phone, letters, and checking email between every class!

Our official "second date" was Valentines Day, 1998 after last seeing each other January 2nd.  I knew I was in love with David when he dropped me off at my house after our New Year's in New York, but I knew he was really in love with me when he made the trip to Vermont.

I realize 15 years is not very long in the grand scheme of things (even though it is forever times 3, right Dadv??!!?  hee hee hee), but when I think about all the events surrounding our relationship in those 15 years I am in awe.  

Fifteen years later here we are.  Four kids girls! Married 11 1/2 years.  A life together that we both love.  Every Valentines Day we reminisce about that second date.  We laugh.  We smile.  We look forward to many many more Valentines Days together!

Here we are...then and now!

 

Our Valentines Day 2013

Valentines Day was a bit different this year....my two big girls were not here for the day (at a home school program 30 minutes away!) and David was HERE, not in Alaska!  I still had the traditional cinnamon rolls for breakfast for the girls, but we had all decided to have a dinner celebration this year so we could all be together.

It was a great day that turned into a great evening....we really love this simple little holiday around our home!

My sweet husband has been sending me roses for so long....these gorgeous red ones smell beautiful!!

 
David also buys each of his girls one single rose.  Love it.  We laughed this year because he realized he has created "flower snobs".  Hilarious.  Chiara does not want store bought flowers, because her Daddy gets them from 3G Flowers (a local florist).  He is certainly setting a high standard for any boy who attempts to date his daughters! Got to love that!!!!



Before dinner the girls opened cards and such that were sent by Nanny & Grampy, Great Nana & Grampy Day, and Grandma.

Here is Emma with a CareBear from Nanny & Grampy!  So excited!

Money to feed their dinosaurs!

Socks!

After opening all their goodies the girls called Nanny and Grandma to say thank you and Happy Valentines Day.  Then...dinner!

Daddy got a rainbow Dash card from his sweet Leah Jo!

Opening the  card from my sweet husband....in a sea of roses!  We both bought each other the "You&Me" series of cards!  Best friends.  Yes we are!

Another tradition...chocolate covered strawberries!

MMmmmmmm


David surprised me with a gift-normally we do not exchange gifts.  This was unexpected.

A glock.  Yes, I own a gun.  It's mine.  Someday it will be painted pink.  

Last, but not least, we headed out for a date!  Alone. No kids. Drinks were had. A grown up movie.

I love this guy!  I love our life!

Happy Valentines Day!!!

 

Preparing for Valentines Day!

I realize that Valentines Day is a very commercialized "Hallmark" holiday.  I also realize that I am greatly blessed to have a family that is overflowing with love all the time that we really do not need a day to express our love.  Celebrating Valentines Day brings David and I joy because of our history with the day and the joy it brings to our girls.

This year the girls have two Valentines Parties!!!  Since they are enrolled in a home school program in the Kyrene School District they had a "school" party, which I think they called "Friendship Day".  Silly.  We also have a home school (Mi CASA) party on Friday.  Lots of Valentines to be made.  I would like to say we went handmade and all that....nope.  Store bought fun in a box!  Chiara was a bit disappointed, but managed to make a few homemade ones for her Dad and I.

Lots of smiles

I am SO proud of Leah.  Four years old and she wrote her name on every single valentine.  All 27 of them!

 

 

 

 

 

Mayah working independently.  

 

Of course Emma was there for all the fun....what would a project be without having to clean up the mess she makes!