Family Photos

My sister Heidi took some photos of our family during my brother Nyles' wedding.
Giovannoni family photos are a rarity, I think the last official ones we had were over three years ago when Derik and I went to see my sister in Albuquerque. Thanks again Heidi for sharing your gift with us. I'm so glad I have a photo of us as all together as a family!

Looks like Alivia ran away from this shot but I think the rest of us look pretty good.

My favorite picture of the evening has to be this one though..

Thanks again Heidi!

The Latest Happenings

I think I probably have to start out by thanking my very talented sister Heidi for capturing all these photos without them I would have nothing!

Isaac turned 3 months old!

I love his big beautiful blue eyes,

His rolly polly face and his "Farmer Joe" look,

His sweet disposition

And his "oh-so" kissable lips!

Isaac I love you, I love you, I do!

As I mentioned earlier my sister Heidi (who is so graciously letting me steal her photos) was in town for a week. She planned so many fun things for our family to do together. We started the week out with a trip to the Manti Utah Temple for the Mormon Miracle Pageant.

I have always loved the Manti Temple, I think in part because of the strong impression I've had of it thanks to the Manti Pageant. Every time, no matter how many times I see it, when they light up the temple and the angels at the end of the pageant, I have always felt the spirit so strongly. It makes me remember just how glad I am to have the gospel in my life and the hope and promises it offers.

We also visited the Sweets Candy Factory in Salt Lake City. We all got to see how their taffy and jelly beans are made.

I'm not sure who's idea it was that we all keep on our hair nets for the photos...
Isaac looks just like a chubby Italian chef, I kept calling him Fat Tony.

All the Ward grand kids.

After the Candy Factory tour we headed on over to Temple Square. We got to see the new exhibit the church has put out that is a miniature replica of the inside of the Salt Lake City temple. It was super neat! After wards we got to take the tour of the conference center roof. I'm just so glad that Heidi let our family tag along, even though all these things are right in my own backyard, I never think to take my kids there.

On Wednesday June 30, 2010
My baby brother Nyles got married!

The Groom

Man and Wife

Handsome Javin

Flower Girls
Sydney, Morgan, Alivia and Jaycee

Congratulations Nyles, Kira and Javin we are all so happy for you.

We finished off the rest of the week with a trip to the swimming pool and hanging out at Grandma & Grandpa Wards for the Fourth of July.



And last but not least a few candid shots of my children.
Dirty faces, unkempt hair...
I was half tempted not to post these pictures, but then I gently reminded myself that this is what my children really look like 98% of the time.



Heidi thank you for being my big sister. Thanks for making the the week you were up so much fun. Thanks for the photos!!!

Father's Day

"Small boy's definition of Father's Day:
It's just like Mother's Day only you don't spend so much."

To the man my children call Dad,
Thank you for all you do and sacrifice in our behalf! Thanks for being a good sport about venturing into the world of parenthood so I could have the family I always wanted.

Our kids primary teachers sent Dylan and Alivia home with these funny little notes for their dad. Oh how they made me laugh and smile.

MY DAD

My favorite thing me and Dad do together is...
Alivia: Eat Pizza
Dylan: Whestle (Wrestle)

My Dad's favorite sport...
Alivia: Games
Dylan: ....

My Dad's job is...
Alivia: Go to Church
Dylan: Sysco

My Dad's favorite food is...
Alivia: Pizza, Noodles, Macaroni (coincidentally those happen to be Alivia's favorite foods)
Dylan: Pizza

What does my Dad teach me...
Alivia: Use the Potty
Dylan: To be good

My favorite thing about my Dad is...
Alivia: Goes to Church
Dylan: He wrestles with me

This year the kids and I decided to make Mr. Giovannoni a picture frame to sport all of his marathon accomplishments.
I also treated the Mr. to my home cooked version of a meal at Famous Dave's BBQ, complete with pork ribs smothered in Devils Spit Sauce, mac'n'cheese, corn on the cob and watermelon.


Happy Father's Day Mr. Giovannoni, I hope you know how much we all love and appreciate you!

Marathon Man and his 5K Woman

Mr. Giovannoni did it again!
26.2 miles ran in 4 hr 26 min and 27 seconds!

Mr. Giovannoni beat his Richmond Marathon time and is confident he can do better in his next race. I'm still in awe that he (or anyone else for that matter) can run 26.2 miles straight, it just boggles my brain.

I officially finished my first 5K . It took my 42 min and 08 seconds to finish (13.30 minute miles). I beat my 45 minute finish goal, and I ran the entire time, so I'm quite ecstatic.
Not bad for an out of shape, nursing mother of a two month old.
Now I have the running bug to get back out there and do another race. Since speed is definitely NOT my strong point in running, I'm focusing on improving my distance. I've already started training for a 10K, once I accomplish that, then I plan on doing a 15K and then finish off with a half marathon next spring.

My mom and dad were kind enough to take my kids to the finish line so they could cheer Mr. Giovannoni and I on.




Thanks to everyone in my family who let us invade their homes, sleep over and helped to watch our kids. You made this event possible!
And Mom and Dad thanks again for spending a Saturday morning with our kids so they could cheer on their parents.

Too Sexy for his Shirt

I'm too sexy for my shirt, too sexy for my shirt...

so sexy it hurts!

I was rummaging around Isaac's drawers today looking for a nice Sunday outfit for him to wear. I stumbled upon this cute little white short sleeved shirt that my sister Heidi had given me.

I noticed the tag said 6-9 months and I was a little worried that it might be too big...That was until I tried to button the shirt up!
I couldn't come anywhere near being able to button up his top button and all the other buttons were stretched to the max. I'm starting to think we should have named this sweetheart Maximus.

A is for...

Abscessed tooth.
I thought Alivia had beat all odds when she chipped and knocked her front tooth out of place, not once but twice and the the little bugger just hung in there. And while her tooth looked fine, aside from the fact that it sat about a quarter of an inch lower than it should, it apparently died and she got an abscess just above the tooth. So we had it pulled.

I was in such a hurry to get to her appointment on time that I forgot to take a before picture, so I guess the "after" picture will have to do.

Apple Crisp
The kids and I made Apple Crisp for cooking day today, I took a picture, but it didn't look very appetizing, so I deleted it off the camera. My internet search for a better picture lead me to believe there just isn't a way to make Apple Crisp look appetizing!
Dylan could barely gag down the soggy apple texture and Alivia only ate her side of ice cream. Looks like Apple Crisp aren't a huge hit around this household!

Two Months Old

If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle.

Vincent van Gogh.

Isaac is 2 months old and doing well!

Length 24.4 inches (90%)
Weight 16 lbs 1 oz ( above 97%)
Head 42.1 cm (90%)

I cannot believe how quickly time is flying by and how fast my baby is growing up. In fact he looks so big and grown up I sometimes forget he's really not that old.
Isaac you've been such a sweet heart, I've loved every minute of you being in our lives. I love your morning smiles and coo's, you radiate such blissful happiness that each morning you start my day out by making me feel like it's the best day of my life. You handle your brother and sisters constant harassment and smothering affections like a soldier. You are so dearly loved!
Thanks for coming here and blessing our family with your sweet spirit!

I've been looking through old pictures and I couldn't help but think my little boys came out of the same mold...Check out these photos.

Dylan .......... Isaac
The head tilt, the leg rolls, the man boobs, their huge kissable faces! These two are definitely brothers!
Miss Alivia may have not come from the same mold but check out her cute chubbiness too!
I love the fact that my babies are so healthy and plump, no wonder I lose my mind every three years or so and have another baby! They are just so irresistible to have and hold!