Rooms... finally

We have been slowly working on the kids rooms.. making them special... making them their own.  Although we still need to get some key furniture pieces and get some more frames up... Will and Isa's room are painted and ready! 

Will's room...

Isa's room...

and a little sneak preview of Gabi's room...

Alleluia!

ONLY 1 child in the house wears diapers!!!!  For a LONG time I didn't know when this day would finally come... but it's here (and hopefully to stay).  I am SO proud to report that Will is in Big Boy Undies now ALL day and night!!!!!!!  Trust me, I am more than ecstatic. 

I have sat around rolling my eyes as I have watched all the other kids in our playgroup progress to this stage one by one... some even 2 years ago (ugh).  I was told, "when he is ready, he will do it."  Well... I WAS READY.  So I ventured on a fun game (with lots of treats) for Will AND Isa and it has paid off.  Will is now fully potty trained!

As for Isa... I still put on a "pull up" at naps and bedtime, but she is in panties all day as well.  She by no means is completely potty trained (she has her occasional accidents a week), but mostly is staying dry and clean.  Over the past 2 days though... she has been going all on her own (without me prompting), so that is A BIG DEAL for me! She has also been staying dry all night and at naps for the past couple of days. 
So I say again... A L L E L U I A ! ! ! ! !

school days a coming...

to put it in Will's words "Isa's first day of school, was Great Mommy!"  yep... Isa is now in pre-school 2 days a week from 8:45-11:45am.  her first day was great and she did awesome!  I will let you know on Wednesday (when she knows what to expect) if all stays well!  I was told she got sad a few times... but overall did well! 

Gabi Rose

we've fallen a little behind on our blog, but we have been real busy with life.... enjoying it, struggling with it, and juggling the every day routines while still making this house home.  we have been spending alot of needed time together, and with friends and family... everything the Summer is suppose to bring! 

here is a little video of our littlest sunshine... with a guest appearance by her older sibs =)

sweet sweet visit!

Today our family took a little drive to Columbus to meet and visit baby Grayson!  We were all so excited!
Grayson is such a sweet, even tempered lil boy.  He does have some lungs on him when hungry though.  Grayson and his Godfather, Tobin, bonded immediately.  Grayson slept content in Tob's arms for over 2 hours! 
Katie and Damian seem so happy.  Their tenderness and love for Grayson was touching.  We had a wonderful visit!

 Tobin finally meets his Godson!

The happy family! so in bliss!

just hanging out.. watching Dinosaurs

so much LOVE for one lil boy!

it was so relaxing just hanging out.... on the playset, feeding the ducks, and running around after the cats!

meeting Grayson

today, Kateri, Gabi, Chloe and I headed to Columbus to meet our newest lil nephew.   Katie and Damian couldn't seem more happy and in full bliss.  It was amazing to see them so in love with their new lil boy.  We felt so lucky to meet Grayson and spend some time with family.  Congrats again! 

welcome baby Grayson!

the kids are sooo excited  to welcome another Sikora cousin... Grayson was born to Damian and Katie today at 7 pounds 13 ounces!  Will is especially excited to have another BOY cousin!

CONGRATS Damian and Katie!  so excited to meet him soon!!!

 

Will's first drawing for Grayson....

multiple mediums

I have gotten use to Will's artistic talent... but today he amazed me again.  Often he will ask me to stamp (it's a good thing I do Stampin'Up, and he actually gets to do it more than I do), and I oblige.   Over the last 2 days when he has gathered all his stamping materials he also had gone on his own and picked up some crayons and markers.  I was astounded at how he used a mix of all these to create these pics.  (note... all of these were done entirely on his own, while I was either cleaning or working on something else!).

*note the detail of the water under the whale, and the grass under the fox =)

(also, for those of you that Know Will... you will know what the blotch of brown is a "muddy ditch", and the 2 extra engines at the end are helping out... just like in the book "The Little Red Caboose")

I caught him "drawing" a princess for Isa, so that she could use her "Princess" stamp set!

his "Zoo" pic

enjoying the summer

a spontaneous decision to go to the pool turned out to be an amazing evening!  This was also Gabi's first time sporting her swimsuit!

Our other lil fish spent TWO whole hours swimming with some major milestones... Will was performing "back flips" in the water, and Isa actually jumped in without us holding her hands!!!

our littlest in her first swimsuit appearance!

needless to say... our kids L O V E the water!

Isa jumps on her own!!!

Gramma and Gabi

4 months

a week late... but time is flying way too fast!  Read her journal here....
Click here for Gabi's new entry:Gabi's Journal

newborn pic....

Happy Happy 4th!

We really do feel so blessed!

grrrreat day!

Will's birthday was all about him, spending quality time together and laughter! What made it even better is that Daddy took today and tomorrow off... we are spending 5 quality days together!
We started the morning with a dance party in the living room (jamming to the Black Eyed Peas' "I've got a feeling").  Will's breakfast of choice was waffles with blueberries, whip cream and sprinkles (LOTS of them), a few candles topped it off with a chorus of Happy Birthday!   Will got another serenade from cousins Aidan and Andrew while still eating breakfast!  Awesome way to start the day!

 

We then got prepared for our next adventure.  We tool advantage of our Zoo membership and went exploring!  This was also special because it was Gabi's first time to the Zoo.  Dinosaurs, some rhinos, koala bears, kangaroos, and lunch... all 3 kids were passed out on the way home!

 

After some quick naps, the kids enjoyed the sunshine and had some water fun! 

 

We managed to pack the kids up again and headed to ToysRUs for Will's birthday surprise.... a NEW BIKE!  This process was a little more stressful than we anticipated..... but in the end, Will was SO happy, and SOOO grateful.  He ran to Daddy and said "thank you, I am so happy!"  The evening ended with a trip on his new bike, singing Happy Birthday at 9:01pm (his birth time), cake (with cotton candy) and a kiss goodnight followed by..."it was a Great Day".

it really was a great day, enjoying each other, and hearing Will's laughter over and over was priceless.
Thanks for all the calls and birthday wishes!

FOUR

could it be?  where has this time gone?  our lil miracle is now FOUR years old.  we feel more than blessed.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY  William Laszlo Sikora!