January News -

Okay it has been lets face it "forever" since we had updates the blog. Sad but true and believe me I am tired of being reminded about new stories and photos from Nonna. We have had our hands full with post holidays wrap up, more snows action then I care to remember, getting back into the schedule for school after being out (when it is now snowing of course) and tending to each and every one of us being sick (and the children multiple sicks of course). Lets just say that my fun loving (and handsome) pediatrician might have a restraining order taken out on me, sans the children actually really being sick of course. Poor Nino has now had bronchitis twice in a month and poor Alessandro had our first official ear infection last week (of course we are thankful to have made it this far without incident but it seems pretty cruel of course). Let's just say we have been hanging out a lot in the sick room and at CVS for filling prescriptions. So for the days that school was actually open, we have missed some due to being sick - urgh!

On the bright side all seems to be going well (finally) with Laterza 3.0. We have had some pretty entertaining side stories but luckily everything seems to be working itself out well. As of the end of January we are at 24 weeks and counting down to a revised due date of May 24th!!!! So that is exciting....

For a quick update on the boys it is non-stop excitement around here. Alessandro continues to love school and reading club. They are finished with shaped and colors and moving into some lessons on opposited and sounds. We had his teacher conference and are just thrilled that they have only good things to say bout him as a student and all around little guy. They have added music to their weekly repetroire (art on Thursdays is still his favorite of course) and so he is singing some cute little songs (including Bear Hunt and This Little Light of Mine). Reading Club on Thursday is just the most exciting ever and each week comes with another great page turner, craft, story and book report. Last week we read Snow Bear which is about a little bear who loses his Mom and has to go and look for her. In his book report ADL wrote "if I were lost I would call Mommy and she would come and get me wherever I am.' This must be reassuring of course. We have laid low a little from swim class due to the weather and catching colds (he will never let me actually dry his hair), but look forward to getting back on the ball. Alessandro has also had couple of birthday parties (one at My Gym which of course is #1) and some play dates with some of his little friends around town (these outings with the other great Moms have really saved us from Camp Mom getting very dull). Each day he catches something new and has a new question to ask. He is an amazing smart kid and we love each day of discovery.

Antonio is just as much of a blessing each day and quite something in a tiny little package of energy. He is on the countdown to being two (coming up in March) which makes him almost 23 months.... For 23 months he is the most verbal and smart kid I have ever been around. He is talking up a storm, so coordinated in his play and smart as a whip - David and I laugh at him literally understanding everything and at the hysterics when he understands but wants just what he wants. What can we say the boy is head-strong in a major way. He has been going through quite a Mommy phase wanting me with him all the time and it seems no one else will do. This separation was cute at first but now he will not stand to be very far away which is sometimes tough. Nino loves books right now and his Thomas magazines (thank goodness we sadly have all the back issues). He can look at a photo of all the engines in the shed and name them - he also does not hesitate to correct one of us when we call someone on the train table the wrong name. Nino is also completely obsessed with "Cars" and anything Lightning McQueen. We have quite a shrine of Cars toys, books, pajamas (thanks Nonna) and even slippers...... Nascar better watch out because we seem to be raising a new generation of race fans. Nino is still having school one day a week (which totally wears him out) and gymnastics which he adores.

All and all we are counting down the days until the snow melts on the playground out back and at the park so we can get outside more. Until then we are planning a quick trip to Charleston for some fun (and hopefully sun) leaving Daddy at home to deal with the snow and cold. XOXO

P.S. The attached video is a little "munchkin dance" performed by the boys on a Sunday morning when Daddy brought home some munchkins from DD (their favorite). They can see him getting out of the car walking to the house and shout "munchkins" and then wait to great him at the door with excitement. Such happy little guys....

New Years Party Party -

We were so lucky again this year to join our friends for New Years in London. For those of you who are new readers this is where we have three families together who enjoy dinner, celebrating and football early followed by a New Years Countdown at 7:00pm with the BBC from London. This is perfect for the boys who get to party hard together with their friends, bang on some pots to ring in the new year, overdose on cupcakes and still make it home to bed by 9:00pm. Perfect!!!! They had suck a great time and partied themselves silly with all the fun. As usual AHL does not allow anyone to leave him behind and insist on getting right into the middle of the action with all the older boys (and one of his cute little girlfriends). Afterwards Mama Duck fell asleep on the couch waiting to watch the ball drop, but does not feel badly about it because honestly who knows any of the musical acts anyhow and let's face it Carson Daily is no George Clooney in the excitement department.

On New Years Day we had some friends over for a great dinner with the family and enjoyed all the fun Southern foods for good luck in 2011. Am sure this will be an exciting year to say the least and it was fun to get it kicked off in such a fun style. XOXOXO

12 Days of Big Snow -

The day after Christmas we sent Deb and Sean back to CT with Nonna early in the morning so they could beat the impending snow (and the traffic). Then we sat patiently in our well stocked home and waited for the snow to begin. Well we were not disappointed because we got all that the weather man promised and more. In all for the first snow we received 26" which was an amazing sight. We were totally snowed in the house and took advantage of all the new toys being here and a chance to sit by the fire all together. We were very lucky to be warm and safe with no place to go at all. However by the next day we were ready to get out and about - Luckily the crew that usually plows the driveway came and took good care of us. Instead of their usual trucks, snow blowers and shovels they actually showed us driving a industrial strength back-hoe right down the street to clear the driveway. This was great because they could scrape all the snow up and load it over the fence into the backyard allowing for more clearance for the cars (which were sitting comfortably in the garage of course). The boys thought this was just about as cool as Santa himself and insisted on watching the entire process either on the side deck on through the back windows. Luckily Mr. Sal, who is now a whole new breed of cool for driving a big yellow back-hoe, understands and always waves and lets them see what is going on. After all the initial excitement and once it warmed up a little (as much as we can hope for), the boys joined Daddy outside to build a great snowman. They were so excited and even Nino who mostly just stood there afraid to move, loved the adventure. Since the great blizzard we have had another three "substantial" snows that have put us all totally over the edge and over winter in general. We can't wait for spring but will try and enjoy the remaining storms that will surely continue to keep us out of school (poor Mommy), needing the driveway plowed (poor Daddy), and emergency trips to the grocery for milk and bread which we seem to always be needing no matter how much we buy. Looking forward to spring and a little warmer weather. XOXOXOXO

Christmas Laterza Style -

The boys had a fantastic Christmas and are still talking about Santa every day. We had Nonna along with Aunt Deborah and Uncle Sean here for all the excitement and there was no disappointment. We went to church on Christmas Eve where ADL refused to play his part as sheep in the Christmas Pageant (we had feared just this of course after rehearsal). Afterwards we had a great lobster dinner and prepared to get the boys ready for bed although they were very excited of course. The boys got into their Santa pajamas and went of to sleep with sugarplums dancing in their heads. Luckily after all the excitement both boys slept until almost 8:00 which we were pleased with and then were ready for all the excitement. We opened every one's stockings first which took almost two hours of fun - remember we have to stop and open everything to play with it right away. After this we had a great nice breakfast break and then returned to open some more loot. Luckily we were all done opening everything by lunch time and stopped to have a little lunch and a fabulous Happy Birthday Jesus - Party. At this point we played some more and then tucked everyone into their little beds for a nap while we worked to clear at least part of the living room from the chaos. By the end of the day we had played with almost everything and were almost caught up putting things together and getting them working (some things seem to require advanced degrees to get put together). One sad note - the boys were sad that their beloved "Elf on a Shelf" George would not be here anymore and had gone with Santa on a well deserved trip to South Beach to rest and relax. For the next two weeks they have asked where he was and why he did not still come back each morning (perhaps building the excitement for next year?).

One other funny note - you should ask Santa (and or Uncle Sean) about some pretty serious delivery issues with the two small cozy coupes that he brought the boys. There seems to be a pretty long and complicated directions for these and it seems Santa refused to stop and watch the video explaining everything beforehand. HA! However the boys love the cars and are playing with them everyday in the basement until it gets warmer.

Merry Christmas to ALL!!!!! XOXOXO

Pop Pop Visit - Train Show -

It is the most wonderful time of the year when you can have a visit from beloved Pop Pop (with Grammie) and a trip to the Train Show one of our newer Holiday Traditions (new as in we never went there until we had the boys). Pop Pop and Grammie were here for a nice long visit before the real madness of Christmas started which was great. PopPop had the chance to read to everyone during our days together and play with the boys on the new play set that he got them. Also team grandparents were a lot of help to let Mama do last minute running around and co-chair the holiday luncheon for the faculty of the day school. So much excitement.

For the Train Show we headed to the NY Botanical Gardens where we met our beloved Evelyn and her little guy Kanan for all the excitement. Though it was cold our spirits and excitement could not be frozen. The train show is a fantastic feast foe the eyes of model trains set with classic NYC scenes all crafted out of botanical. It is the most beautiful and perfect work of art ever with little trains running all around which was so exciting to the boys. There was the special VIP guest Thomas there which was exciting but most of all it was just the trains, fabulous flora and good holiday spirits. Also such a gift to see the boys bending down to enjoy the show, taking it all in and even clapping for all the trains. Such a great time for all - XOXOXO