new smile!!!!

They are OFF!!!  After 2 years I am braces free.  I will take some better pictures when the swelling goes down - it hurt a little.  Feels so strange. :-)

Gido and Grandma visit

Thank you for coming this weekend and spending such quality time with all of us. :-)  Great visit!!!

sisters

Thank you Auntie Char, Uncle Ron and Cousin Julie for our new Hawaii atire - teenie wahine x 2

very very hard to french braid her hair, but it looks so cute!

Kailey's turn to take a picture now...what great gift from Gido and Grandma, although I do have to go through the pictures as she takes something of everything (including me feeding her sister and me getting dressed). hahaha

playing Dr. Kailey

10 days until the braces come off !!!!!!!!!!!!!

All you will see is a zoomed in picture of my metal free smile!!!! I cannnot wait.

Thumper

Grandma Joy and Grandpa Phil sent the girls some super sweet Easter goodies and one of Ella's gifts is a Thumper from the park.  She loves this guy.  Every time we show it to her she smiles HUGE.  There is a little butterfly sewn on his back and she loves the texture of that.  Thank-you so much!!!!

Auntie Char & Cousin Julie visit.

What a great visit.  I cannot even put into words how awesome it was for them to meet Ella Bella.  Kailey was super excited to see them and quickly became Julie's mini-me.  Ella was full of smiles and took a couple cat naps in Char's arms.  Char brought her gear and she took some awesome pictures of Ella and Kailey (Kailey is very hard to work with in front of the camera as of late).  Ella was sporting her rolls and a gummy grin for the shoot.  Kaiey is still talking about the visit and now everything is based on what Julie would do.  'Is my hair like Julie's?', 'Does Julie like brocoli?'...over and over and over again.  hahaha.  Thanks so much guys for making the trek and thanks Char for taking some fabulous pictures.

Kailey holding their hands during a 'scary' part in Haunted Mansion.

Momma says...what?

I was singing and Kailey pipes up and tells me that I am a dickless singer!!  I was so shocked  - she meant to say Ridiculous singer.  Well, just when I thought I wasn't going to have a laugh today she never fails me. lol

One more cute thing...

When we were leaving Kim's house to head to class she was so worried when the boys were getting too close to Ella.  She was very very concerned and told them to back up and look with their eyes only.  Then she asked me why we were leaving her sister...'are we getting her again?...why can't she come and watch?
...I am going to miss'did her'.  She had to give her a hug and a kiss good-bye and she told her she loved her and she will come pick her up really soon.  We picked her up and she was so excited to tell her about everything she did, all while Ella's eyes were massive taking it all in.  Then she promised her that when she was a little bit older she will bring her to class with her.  Sooooo cute.

Kailey's 1st combo class

Kailey had her first dance/gymnastics class this morning and needless to say she is hooked. There are about twelve 3-4 year olds (fairies) in this class and 2 of them are boys (wizards). The instructor is a hoot. She came out of the gymnasium sporting fairy wings and talking like one of the characters from Tinker bell so Kailey was instantly excited. You can tell some of the gals have taken this class before as they were first in line to go to the Gym. Kailey had a death grip on my finger so 'Fairy Wendy' said I could walk her in. 2 of the Dad's walked their daughters in as well (Me and the Dad's are the sucks I guess). There was a circle of flowers on the floor and the teacher asked everyone to pick a flower and sit on it. Kailey sat down and looked at me just beaming and then told me, "Ok Mommy, you can go now". That was that. I, along with the 2 Dad's, were spying through the tiny window and was it ever sweet to see Kailey having a ball. She was showing some of the kids something that looked like part of her Hannah Montana routine and they were all watching her like she was some sort of pop star...lovely. I could tell that she was a little nervous on some of the equipment, but she didn't refuse or freak out at all. Most of the Moms have their little groups that go walking for the 45 min...PASS. I will hang with the Dads and this other really nice lady that has a nine month old. The classes are in a school so Kailey thought that was super cool to see all the little cubbies for shoes and hooks for Jackets. They converted the front office into a playroom so all the kids that are waiting have somewhere to hang out. She was very shy at first, but she took 2 steps in and very softly said, "Hi everyone I am Kailey". She looked at me and smiled...good job k-bear, nobody heard her, but that is ok. She walked in very slowly and went into a playhouse with a few other girls. So funny - she still does this little stick out her tongue thing when she is nervous. They have every piece of equipment you can think of...very cool. The dance part happens at the beginning of the class. So we are not allowed in until the 'production' at Grad in 8 weeks so I am afraid I will have no photos until then. One of the dad's brought his camera and snuck a few - but I do not want to tick fairy Wendy off...hahaha. When it was time to leave they all line up and walk out and all I could hear was Kailey saying she wanted to stay. Good sign. They have a play time every Friday morning so we will have to hit that a few times this session. As far as her swimming...grrrrrr....I signed her up for the wrong class and the one I actually needed was full so I guess we will take her and then sign her up for something this summer...no biggy I guess. I cannot believe she is growing up so fast. :-( It shocked me to see her in a 'school-like' setting - made me want to cry. Soooo happy she is confident and in something like this, but at the same time, it feels like a blip of time since she was Ella's age.

On to Ella...
I wasn't sure how much Kailey would need me this first session or how it was set up really so I left her with Miss Kim for the hour...she was perfect I guess. She didn't play strange at all. Seeing as I never left Kailey with a sitter at all I am kind of thinking once a week with Kim while Kailey is at class may not be a bad thing. We'll see though. There is certainly a ton of areas to hang out (empty school) with Ella Bella. The one little guy at Kim's was adorable - "baby - awwwww - her little blankie". I think Ella liked him so much as he has an afro just like her sisters...hahaha.

Kailey Bathing her Sister from Shari Ruggiero on Vimeo.

This is a nightly routine that I just love...Kailey bathing her sister.  She takes this job very seriously and it doesn't seem to matter that she winds herself leaning over the tub...poor kid.  Notice the chocolate moustache - another nightly routine...hahaha.

sleeping kailey...whata pose!

Kailey loves when I tuck Ella in with her...she always asks if she can sleep with her...hahaha.

Cute Kailey'ism - "Ella, you are my bestest friend in my whole world forever"

vertically challenged compared to her big sister!  Lowest setting and she needs some books to get it the correct height.

snow...snow and for something different...MORE SNOW!!!

Ella giggles from Shari Ruggiero on Vimeo.

Happy Easter!!!

Easter @ the mall

The Nans Visit...

What a great visit this week from the Nans.  The time always goes so fast and I hate that.  A Turkey dinner, a trip to the mall and downtown & lots of cuddles made for a fantastic few days.  Thanks for the Easter goodies (kailey is sporting one of them in the picture).