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!  

 

M. I. A.

Yes, this blog has been neglected...but that is because I have been working on something very exciting!  I made my photography business official!!!!  Woo Hoo!  It has been a lot of work...and still has some 'behind the scenes' things to be done, but I am excited!

My 4 Beauties on this blog have been my inspiration!

Check out 4Beauty Photography:
http://4beautyphotography.blogspot.com/

Jennifer

Family Trip to Flagstaff

My Arizona born girls are obsessed with snow.....well, maybe I should say they were obsessed with snow!   We took a family trip up to Flagstaff over the weekend to play in the snow and go sledding.  The highs were barely in double digits and the lows over night went into negative numbers.

Brrrrrrr

It was very cold, but we had ourselves a good time!  Nanny and Grampy (my parents) of course joined us for the freezing fun!  I am so grateful they were there...sledding would not have been as easy...or as entertaining!

Outside of NAU Morton Hall Chiara was all about throwing snow at Daddy.  There are great benefits to being the family photographer!  No snow at Mommy!

On a little side note, I was able to have coffee and spend some time with a former 5th grade student who is a Sophomore at NAU.

Snow angels were a big hit for the three oldest.  Emma did not like snow on her gloves.  Blah! She said.  Every. Single. Time.

Our little penguin.

Later that evening we visited our friends Chick-fil-A!  They open this coming Thursday, they are the previous owners of the CFA here in Casa Grande.  It was so great to see them!  We got a tour of the entire facility.  How cool!

The next morning we were off to Wing Mountain Park to do some sledding!

Leah, my little penguin, and her Daddy!  I am so fortunate to have an active husband who loves doing this stuff with the girls! 

Chiara was loving it...until she got too cold.  It was a whopping 13 degrees out!

Love this one!  Leah asked her Dad, myself, Grampy, and Nanny to join her for sledding.  She made sure to get at least one ride with everyone....ok, one ride with me, many with my Dad and David, and two great rides with her Nanny!
My Dad rocked it out there!  Old?  Nope!

Mayah would have stayed the longest!  She loved all the hills and wanted to keep going.  I loved her smile!

Grampy and penguin Leah!

Nanny helped keep a very tired and cold Emma happy!  She has become quite the Nanny's girl!!!

Grampy and Leah off to do some more sledding

Now, Leah asked Nanny to go with her and of course how could Nanny say no?!  She wouldn't.  She didn't...and we love it!  After some "Nanny Yoga" into the sled she was off.  The first run was ok, but Dad and I wanted the money shot.  I direct David with some hand signals as to where he should line them up (of course with my Dad in complete agreement).

Weeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!

The money shot!  Nanny got some good air on this one!  So much I am fairly certain her rear is still sore today!  

I think it hurt a bit on that landing!

The San Francisco Peaks.  Beautiful.

David went with Leah and got some air too...funny, his rear seems just fine!  Hee hee!

It was a great time, followed by some great eats at Salsa Brava.  Lots of laundry later I am so glad we went!

Merry Christmas- part 1

Merry Christmas! 

 Here are some highlights and D'Amato traditions!

Christmas Eve.  The girls are in bed, the presents are ready to be opened, and we are excited to bless the heck out of them.  You can see each of the girls receive three gifts.  

Stocking are full...and a bit overflowing.  It was the year of books in the stockings this year.  The stockings are all made by my mom with love.  

The Little People nativity has been under the tree and before the older two go to bed they set it up on the table.  The green paper pieces are "hay" that the girls receive when we notice good behavior, kindness, thinking of others, obedience, etc.  Baby Jesus is not put in the manger until they are in bed and he lays on all their good deeds.

Our menu...such good food!

Coming down the stairs AFTER 7am...yes, that's right folks!  We tell them if they wake they have to wait. 

Nope, no presents yet.  They head straight for the table because they know Baby Jesus is there and it's time for CAKE!  They sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and have a traditional piece of Christmas cake!

Happy girl!!!

Serving cake, but having none.  Self restraint...only way I am going to get the pre-baby body ALL the way back!

Delicious!

Just shoving it in!  

Ok, now we are ready for presents!