A Rainy Day

It was a rough year for Silvestrini City. In January we listed our house for sale, sold it in March, moved into an apartment in May, bought a house in August, moved in September. All of this change wreaked havoc on my scheduled toddlers who do not adapt well to change. Reed especially had a rough year. His behavior and personality suffered as he lost the comfort and security he'd known all his life. We made this move FOR our children. We are in a better house in a better neighborhood with sidewalks and parks and a great school they will attend. Someday Reed will understand and appreciate all of this. But for a while, it was tough going.

Somewhere amidst the stress, I went into what I call "survival mode." Instead of enjoying my children and spending quality time with them, I started tolerating them. I wasted hours online on Facebook while my kids entertained themselves. It's time to get back to the business of parenting and focusing my attention where it is needed, and deserved, the most! For that reason, I de-activated my Facebook account for now while I regain my focus and priorities.

Today it is rainy and cold and I didn't get any sleep. I dread days stuck at home where my kids energy drives us all crazy! I knew I had to make a conscious effort to spend every minute with them to keep them entertained and happy! And that is what we did!

Sometimes I pick up little crafts at the Dollar Tree to save for a rainy day. Today we did painting a sun catcher to hang in the window. Reed had a train and Paige had a butterfly.




They are both very serious and focused when it comes to their crafting!

This is Paige's "cheese" face when I'm trying to get her to smile!

Finished train (sideways)

Finished butterfly (also sideways)

While Paige was locked down in her chair, I painted her toes for the first time! She always asks but mean mommy is always worried about the carpet! So I let her pick the color and did it at a time when I knew she'd be sitting for a while for them to dry. Guess who knocked the polish off the counter and made a mess on the tile? I'll give you a hint, it wasn't Paige...

Cutest chubby toes ever!

They were sitting in their hairdresser chairs with this trash can on their heads for some reason....

Then the inevitable happened.....

Time for some dress up!

Yee haw lil' cowgirl!

Next it was time for some "swimming"! The kids were putting on their floaties and playing with water toys so I decided to let them swim in my tub!

They had a blast AND it killed an hour! I got to take a shower since it's right next to the tub, folded some laundry, cleaned the bathroom and did some reading! Turns out, paying more attention to them gives me MORE time to myself, not less! Who knew? That was our morning! Now that the kiddos are napping, I'm going to attempt a nap myself! Goodnight!

Railway Museum

This weekend I took the kids to the Orange Empire Railway Museum for one last day before our passes expire this month. Since we had such a great time at Day Out With Thomas, Reed wanted to invite his friend Samuel again.

Samuel and Paigey

Reed and Samuel in their matching conductor hats

The Three Musketeers

All aboard for our first ride of the day

Me and Paigey

Reed is OBSESSED with trains! He was so excited!

Tickets please!

Paige was running up and down the trolley before it started

A break from walking!

Playing in the wood train in the area Reed had his 3rd birthday party at

I love capturing these little moments where they're just hanging out and talking. Our little boys are growing up!

Reeds favorite kind of train!

A caboose on the loose!

I'm sad it was our last trip but we will definitely make the Day out With Thomas an annual event!

Valentines Cookies

I have neglected my blog over the past several months and it's time to get back on track! Last year was crazy busy for us and the holidays maxed me out on time and my stress level. Things have settled down in the New Year as we settle into our new home and life returns to "normal". I've tried to minimize my obligations and get back to focusing on what's most imporant: my family!

I'm a lover of the holidays and having kids makes it so much more fun! Valentines Day is no exception! We had our friend Samuel over to make heart shaped sugar cookies. I love doing things like this with them!

Paige doesn't get much decorating done. She see's the cookies and the frosting and immediately starts eating them!


Who can get mad at that face? I never thought I'd be the "anything goes" type of parent but voila, here we are!


Reed likes the frosting the most. He'll take the time to decorate a cookie but then immediately eat it too.

Samuel was the only one that atually "decorated" the cookies! He even wanted to save them until later! Definitely not my child!

Frosting face!

I hope you all have a Happy Valentines Day!

1 Corinthians 13:4–8 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails ...

The Face in The Window

"The long goodbye" is a reference to those suffering from Alzheimer's but it always makes me think of my Grammie. For as long as I can remember, every time we would leave my Grandparent's house my Grammie would cry and say goodbye and that it was the last time I was ever going to see her again. Then we would back out of the driveway and see them standing in the window waving goodbye for as long as they could see. For the past ten years since Grampie passed, it was just a solitary face in the window.

When I was little I was scared and truly believed it was the last time I'd ever see them, because they said it so it must be true! As I got older I just realized Grammie didn't deal well with goodbye and at her age, it really could have been the last time! Grammie reached 101 years of age and passed away just weeks shy of her 102nd birthday. Even though we've been saying goodbye all of my life and it was obviously inevitable, it came as a shock! I think I had really started to believe she might outlive us all and took for granted she would always be there.


She was able to die in the comfort of her own home with both of her children there. She lived a life longer and fuller then most. I'm sad that the last time I saw that face in the window it truly was our final goodbye. It is a reminder of how short and precious life is, even when one reaches 101 years. As we backed out of the driveway for the last time, I know we were all thinking the same thing and missing that face in the window.