Back to School

Third Grade 

Dylan is super excited to start a new school year.  I'm even more so.  It's been a long summer of changes and it will be nice to have something constant and structured in our lives.  

Dylan was also way excited, because for the time being, he gets to ride a bus to school!

I feel so bad for him having to face so much change and uncertainty right now, but if anyone can face it with a positive attitude and a friendly heart it would most certainly be Dylan. 

I Love you Dylan, I hope you have a great time and learn lots of things while we are here. 

Sunday Snippets

Our Week in Review.

• So far we've survived 8 weeks of being separated from Mr. Giovannoni.  He's been here in Utah for a few days here and there and I visited him once in Houston, but life feels lonely and hard without him here.
• Mr. Giovannoni's family has been so kind to let us live with them.  I'm glad my kids have had the opportunity to spend time with their Grandma and Great Grandma.
• Alivia request that her Great Grandmother Giovannoni make her pancakes every morning.  I'm always appalled and I spend a lot of time trying to convince Alivia that cereal is better and to not bother her grandmother, but Grandma "Joe" is always tickled that she asks, so she happily obliges.  
• Isaac slipped in the tub and split his upper right eyelid open.  Thankfully it wasn't deep and didn't need any stitches, but now he has a black eye.  
• I attempted to take all three of my children to a baptism without any help.  Five minutes into it I realized I would have been better off getting wild monkeys to hold still and be quiet then getting my kids to behave themselves.  I was so embarrassed. 
• While at this baptism Alivia decided to sit on my cousins lap and proceeded to fart most loudly and then laugh ever so loudly at her manner-less behavior.  I could have died from embarrassment!
• A second home option has hit the market.  Both homes have the same basic floor plan, that I just adore. 

 Option number One

 Located in Cypress this one is my favorite of the two. I like that it is newer, the painting and floors are all to my liking.  It puts us smack dab between Mr. Giovannoni's work facilities (which are about 20 miles apart) so it would be a nice option for Mr. Giovannoni's commute.  It has a smaller yard and some ridiculous HOA fees tied to it and the current owners are asking more than it's worth. 

Option number Two.

 

This home is located in Richmond.  We don't know much about this area. It is quite close to one work facility, but very far from the other.  It is 4 years older than the other home, and the view from the backyard is the tollway (freeway).  The inside is neat but I would definitely do some updating of the paint and flooring. 

The yard is huge and the price is exactly where we want it to be. 

All that is left now is to figure out what is the better option for us.  

One Month

I'm haunted and plagued by the little line under my blog list that keeps reminding me this family blog has sat untouched for over a month now.  I remember when I first started to blog and read blogs, I found it incredulous that people left their blogs untouched for months at a time, I wondered to myself why people even bothered in the first place.  But lately, more often than not, my very blogs suffer from the above mentioned condition.  So here are my excuses as to why I've fallen into such a slump, in no particular order. 
I have two blogs...well actually I have four blog, but two of them I actually try to keep updated for journaling (I think I just made that word up) purposes.   I thought it was such a brilliant idea to separate my life happenings and thoughts from our family's life and happening.  But now I have serious anxiety about what posts belong where and then I stress out about trying to keep them both interesting and separate with out repeating myself on one or the other.  So most of my ramblings get put on my personal blog, and our poor family blog remains untouched.
Our lives aren't really that exciting and I seriously struggle with finding things and events that I want to remember or have recorded. 
I have it stuck in my head that our family blog posts (or any blog post for that matter) need to be exciting, or at least shocking and like I mentioned before our lives aren't exciting or shocking.
My older sister does a post every Friday about the weeks events with her family and I love it!  It makes me feel close to them, when they are far away.  Some day she's going to look back and treasure the things she has written and I want the same thing!  I've been desperately trying to come up with something similar to do with our family blog with out taking away the unique and specialness of her Forget Me Not Friday posts. 
Until then forgive me for the very long pauses.

Dylan's Baptism

On Saturday June 4th 2011,

Dylan David Giovannoni chose to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  

I hope he will always cherish and remember the special gift he was given, and that he will live worthy to always have the Holy Ghost as his guide and companion.  

Thank you to all our friends and family who have loved and supported Dylan as well as our family.  

It is my hope and my dream that Dylan will grow up to be an amazing man who loves God and who betters this world.  

Dylan you have a good heart and a caring spirit.  You are thoughtful.  You are smart.  You are kind.  You are eager.   You are sensitive.  You are loved.  

Thank you for being you and making my world a better place. 

Family and Friends...

A New Chapter.
 
In case you haven't heard, the Giovannoni's are headed off to a new adventure in...

Mr. Giovannoni accepted a new and (we hope) awesome job!  

We are excited and terrified!

Dylan is sad to leave his friends and very anxious about moving by "Tornado Alley", (which we are not, but for some reason Texas and tornado's are burned into his brain as going together) but is very excited to have new bugs to catch, and new places to see.

Alivia is super excited to move and asked if we could leave tomorrow!  I don't think she's going to be nearly as thrilled when she finally realizes we are going far far away from everyone and everything we know. 

Mr. Giovannoni is sad to leave.  He loves his Church calling and our ward, he likes his current job, he loves the Salt Lake County library system, he loves his marathons out here and the fact that they are held on Saturdays instead of Sunday.  He is giving up a lot of comforts and things he loves, to expand our family's horizons.

I have felt that we would end up in Houston for a while now.  There was a whispering in my heart that said I would go there and that I/we would be happy.  

There are many many unknowns!  And I'm certain that making things work out is going to be tough and is going to be a trial in my life, but I believe and trust in the prompting I had.  I believe I will find a different sort of happiness out there.   

I look forward to not having Utah winters, although I've heard summers in Houston are miserable because of the heat and humidity.  I may soon change my mind and wonder why I hated winter so bad.  I look forward to having my own fenced in yard and to building the garden of my dreams.  I look forward to meeting new people and having my life enriched by them. I look forward to planting TROPICAL flowers!

I know I will miss the mountains, miss them dearly, but maybe the open country, the busy city, the ocean, or the wooded lots surrounding Houston will catch my fancy. 

I'll miss all my old friends and my family and my husbands family.  I'll most likely never get to be at birthday parties, family events, and Holiday gatherings.  My kids won't be able to hop in the car and go see their Grandpas, Grandmas, Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins, whenever they want to.   I imagine I'll feel very lonely and removed at times, but it's my hope that I will be able to build my own family traditions and that my kids will find Grandma's and Grandpa's Fill-ins, in our new ward (church) family.  It's my hope that when we do get to see our loved ones we will cherish the time we've we been blessed to have with them and make the most of it.  

I look forward to hearing me kids say "ya'll".

I've heard that everything in Texas is bigger, and from what I've seen and read I believe it.  I'm not looking forward to the giant bugs, the horrendous traffic, or the astronomical AC bill, but all good things in life come with a price tag right?

It's my hope that everyone will start saving their pennies in a jar under the bed so they can come out and visit us once we are settled.  

The Lost Pig

On Monday for Family Home Evening, the kids and I read the parable in which Jesus teaches about a shepard who left his 99 sheep to look for the one that was lost.  It was a simple and short lesson. We read it right out of the kids version of the New Testament.  Both kids were quiet and seemed to be paying attention. 
After I had finished reading, I asked Alivia if she would quickly tell me about what she learned from the story. 
Her reply, "Jesus lost his pig."
Me:  "PIG"?
Alivia:  "Um no Mom I mean...What's that animal again?  Oh yeah a sheep".

Spring Break

The though of stewing around my house with nothing to do for Spring Break with all my kids home and Derik at work was more than I could bare, so I decided that I would drive down to Albuquerque, New Mexico to visit my sister and her family.  I'm so grateful that Jon and Heidi were kind enough to let us come hang out at their place for a week. 

Isaac had a boogery cold the week before we left but seemed to be on the mend, so I figured we were in the clear as far as sharing germs were concerned.  We hit the road early Saturday morning and drove 11 plus hours to the beautiful sunshiny city of Albuquerque.  My kids were excellent travelers and the we arrived perfectly safe and sound Saturday evening just in time to catch the last few minutes of my sisters church party. 

On Sunday, Uncle Jon treated us to his delicious waffle breakfast and then we went to church together.  The kids got to go to Sunday School with their cousins and I think they really enjoyed that.  Aunt Heidi made Dylan some ribs for dinner and he loved them! 

Monday

Heidi and I took the kids flower shopping.  I think I might have been the only one who found any satisfaction and joy in our little flower shopping trip.   I could spend days browsing green houses and nurseries and never tire of it.  After we got home we made dinner and planted flowers.  Thanks Heidi for letting me help you pick flowers and plant them.  I loved getting my hands dirty.

Tuesday 

Heidi, the kids and myself, hit the fabric store and bought enough fabric to sew Dylan a pillowcase, and Livie and myself a three tiered skirt. Lets just say that sewing isn't something I've started off being talented at.  So Heidi ended up sewing everything.  It did however spark an interest in me.  I'm determined to pull out my new sewing machine this week and get to practicing!  This is the skirt Heidi made for Alivia it turned out so cute.  Even better is the fact that my Heidi captured these gorgeous photos.  My sister Heidi is so talented at everything she does.

I'll post a picture of my skirt as soon as I find the nerve to take a picture of myself....

Wednesday 

Heidi's girls get out of school early (on Wednesdays) so we headed over to a park to play while Morgan went to Piano Lessons.  After wards we went to the Aquarium in Albuquerque. I really enjoyed my time there.  Theri exhibits are really cool.  I loved the Jelly fish.

And this giant exhibit of sharks and sea turtles was awesome!

After we finished with the aquarium, we walked over to the botanical gardens. My kids loved being able to explore and run around.  They had a huge miniature train set and Dylan chased after the trains until they put them away.

Thursday 

Heidi sewed skirts and this pillowcase dress, while I watched.  I think it turned out really cute.  

Our sewing fun came to an abrupt stop when poor Braden hit his head on the table and split open his forehead, I felt so bad for him.While we waited for Braden to come home from the insta-care, the kids all colored Easter eggs.  Aunt Heidi is the Best!

Friday

Heidi pulled her girls from school so they could come hang out with us at the zoo. I loved the Albuquerque Zoo too, it was awesome.  I loved the Flamingo's (even though they stink) their coloring is my favorite, which I learned comes from the Crustaceans they eat!

Dylan thought he had died and gone to heaven when he finally got to see the Komodo Dragons.

We watched the seals eat their breakfast, they even applied sunscreen to one of them (what the ?).  We watched one monkey eat his feces and the other throw up his lunch and then eat it again.  The kids were so disgusted and fascinated!  The polar bears were awesome too, they were doing a little dance that was mesmerizing to watch.  It was a fun experience!

After we got home from the zoo Aunt Heidi had another Easter craft for the kids to do.  They got to make these adorable bunnies.

THANK YOU HEIDI!

You cooked , cleaned, refereed, entertained, listened, photographed, and gave us one fabulous vacation.  Even though Alivia and Braden fought like cats and dogs, and the other kids had their moments, I think all they will really remember is the time spent together and the fun things they got to do!

Isaac has a terrible habit of swiping other kids sippie cups and poor J's was no exception, unfortunately he shared his boogery germs with her and got her sick, I feel so terrible for getting such a great weekend and giving such an awful thank you present!  Here's hoping she get better really really quick!

My kids were fabulous on the drive home on Saturday.  I listened to a church book on CD for a better portion of the time.  It was really a great 11 hour ride. 

Dylan told me something super funny in the car on the way home and I told myself to remember exactly what he said so I could write it down and just like that it left my head.   So here's what I think I remember, although it's not going to be as funny because it was the way he said it that made it so comical!

"Mom I think it's funny how boy peacocks have beautiful tails that they flash to the girl birds and impress them so they can mate."  "My teacher told me another word for mating is breeding."  I want to breed endangered animals, so they don't disappear, like the frogs we saw at the zoo."

That sort of left me speechless! 

On a closing note, Heidi captured these photo's of my kids for me. 

I LOVE them! (Both the Pictures and my Kids!)

Dylan 

Just a week shy of his 8th birthday.

 Alivia 

4 years old

Isaac

1 Year Old