Giosa summer kick off

So, summer is finally here!!! After a very long winter and lots of snow, we made it!!! So far we haven't had a lot of humid and hot days, but we are still in the early stages.

The boys have been enjoying the warmer weather; out playing with the water table and kiddie pool every chance their allowed. They are also both taking swimming lessons. Aiden is doing a small class and JP and I are doing a parent and me.

Aiden is doing great! The only thing we've working on is getting his face wet. The teacher says his arms and legs are strong and he could be a great swimmer. Well, I'm proud to report that today that he jumped in and went completely under!! He has a month left and I hope he keeps up with it.

JP doesn't mind jumping in, get his face wet, or splashing, but he's not a fan of the pool still. He lasts about 10 mins and says, "all done!" unless we are doing something he wants. He's defintely so different from Aiden; adventous, but not one to follow directions. Lol! I hope the next month gets better.

We went to our friends birthday party where the party "bag" was a super soaker and Aiden could ont have been more thrilled. He claimed it as the "best gift ever!"

Now only if we'd let him squirt people with it, he'd be in heaven !!

The last few weeks have been crazy and a blur. Keith spent a week in CA for work, which he loved every minute of minute of.

And Daddy brought home gifts that were a big hit.

Then last weekend was my baby sister's bridal shower. I was so happy that we surprised her! All of her bridesmaid did a great job!

This last week, I had to take a quick trip for work to NY. Although short, it was a great time. We did some team building; hiking through a beautiful state park and then a boat ride on one of the Finger Lakes! And then some training. I honestly have the best co-workers!

My trip to NY was quick because I was off on Friday for our 1st family fun day for Summer 2014. We had talked about doing A Day Out with Thomas, but JP isn't in to it like Aiden was. Aiden wasn't overall excited about going either; so, last minute judgement call, we decided to go to Dutch Wonderland and I'm so glad we did!

Both boys loved it!! JP was old enough this year to go on a handful of rides and he cried about the ones he could't go on. Aiden is defintely more fearful and meek, while Joanthan is a thrill seeker and ready for anything. 

Jonathan loved the log flume; laughing all the way down the hill. Aiden complained in line he didn't want to do it. When he got off he said it wasn't that bad, but also didn't want to try it again. 

Most of the rides JP giggled through; whereas, Aiden was cautious about anything with heights. We did manage to convince Aiden to go on the small roller coaster (and without much argument!). I had the chance to ride with him and he did laugh and scream and said it was fun, so to us a success and a big win with him!

Aiden even got his first driving lessons which went much better then it  will go in another 11 years- lol

This year we got a two day pass, so I'm excited to be able to go back with the boys and we hope to hit up the water park next time, too! I'm defintely looking forward to all the adventures we'll have this summer!

Class of 2014 to Class of 2027

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Another big day in the Giosa household.....we no longer officially have a preschooler, just a school age big-boy, who will start Kindergarten in the fall.

His school had a nice little ceremony to honor their graduates, singing some of their classroom songs to show how well they know their colors, alphabet, numbers, and how they greet the day with each other.

They had a slide show capturing the two or three years the kids have spent at the 1st Presbyterian Bucket school; showing a picture of each kid in their cap and gown at the end.

Then each kid got to walk across the stage and get their "diploma" from their teacher (one of Aiden's teachers was really sick and couldn't make it today; such a shame)

It was a great celebration of the amazing two years he has spent at preschool. Aiden has loved school so much and his teachers have been the best. 

I couldn't have asked for a better start to school experience for him. He has made some of his first friendships, too.

 

And this year Aiden had the added benefit of his cousin Rob being in his class and his cousin Will going to the school, too. They had a lot of fun and a great year together.

I know Aiden will go transition well to kindergarten because he's always been interested in learning things, understanding how things work, and retaining the information.  

Oh, The Places You'll Go! We are so very proud of you, Aiden Edward and love you so very much!

10 years gone by....

Today Keith and I celebrate ten years of marriage and yet it seems like yesterday I was getting ready to walk down the aisle.

I still remember the day so well... Full of happiness and excitement.

Keith always likes to remark that I had a goofy grin on my face the whole day, but how could I not? I was marrying my best friend of 14 yrs!

Our wedding was a blast- live band, lots of dancing, lots of laughs, and of course lots of people watching the Flyers in the play offs (it's what happens when you marry in May).

The last ten years have been nothing like I expected or planned. Lots of laughs. Lots of love. Lots of moving, but also lots of unpredictable moments that had lots of tears, too. Keith is just an amazing husband, partner and Dad, and he's my support system and rock. We have had some hard times; some that people are luckiy enough to never encounter. I'm sure we'll have more to encounter in the future, but I know we' ll get through just fine because of our love for each other and support from all of you.

So, as we celebrate 10 years, thanks to all of you for the love and support over the last decade!

Spring is finally here!

I can't believe how long it's been since my last post....I guess it's because we are so boring and have nothing to write about.  Anyway,  first of all we hope everyone had a very blessed Easter- we spent the whole weekend with family. We celebrated our youngest nephew's, adorable Matthew, 2nd birthday on Saturday and Aunt June made it fun with an Easter egg hunt and all.

Then we spent Sunday running around- we went to church and had a wonderful lunch with the Giosas. Aiden and JP were so excited to have time with their cousins 2 days in a  row!! We then headed to Alison's mom and dad to see them and Stacey and Bob and before topping the night off, as we usually do, at Alison's aunts and uncles and all the cousins! It was a great day.

We are so excited that spring is here after a loooonnngg winter! We are in constant motion these days, but I'm sure any parent would say that. I can't believe it's been almost 10 years since Keith and I have been married or that Aiden is closing in on the end of his preschool years or that it's been a year since JPs surgery. But here's an update on our boys...

Aiden...

He continues to love school and learning. He's officially registered for Kindergarten and is growing up way to quickly. We took him to see the Easter bunny this year and his response was, "Mom there was totally a person in that bunny suit". I had no response to that - lol. He was way into Easter this year candy, finding eggs, and all. It's sad to know his years of that are numbered. And he started soccer again a few weeks ago. This year they do basic soccer drills and then at the end play scrimmages.  I'm so proud to say the first week of scrimmage and he scored two goals!! Looking ahead he will start swimming lessons (all by himself) in a few weeks and will be " graduating from PreK May 23.

Jonathan....
Is constantly coming into his own...he's so funny. He isn't like Aiden-wanting to learn, but surprises us with what he knows all the time, and is doing so well with PT. JP is the comedian, but also gives us a run for our money. He is not a great sleeper and is needy at times, but also so darn cute, so defintely a balancing act with this one

A medical update for him-JP  had an Ortho appt in late Feb and the doc was so happy with how well he healed and how well  PT  is going.  We are (or at least expect to be) surgery free this year! We  plan to start his first legthening next spring, were he'll also have an 8 plate at that time too. As far as PT, we still go 2 times per week and JP now goes back by himself, which turns out to be better as he focuses and listens to direction better. They're please with his progress- his squats are good and deep now, he navigates a variety of surfaces and we make sure to take him out on grass and all to help! His stair climbing is getting better and so is his kicking. All in all, they're happy with how far he's come since November. And we're always amazed at his running....now with or without his AFO, he's getting fast! His PTs notice his discrepancy has become greater and suggested a shoe lift, inside his sneaker, to help. It has defintely made a difference, so this just confirms we need to do his legthening surgery sooner then later.

And mom and dad, well were just trying to keep up with our boys. Dad already got a promotion (yay!) at his new job and has to go to CA for training in June.