A Moment for Me

If you do not want to read a post of complaining and feeling sorry for one's self, skip this one and read the next.

This post is going to be all about me or at least most of it. Me....hum, who is that? Am I really only a taxi cab driver, dry cleaner, maid, cook, diaper changer, day care provider? Is that all I am? My family seems to think so these days. I am pretty convinced my husband thinks a little fairy comes in all day and makes beds, does laundry, plays with Bella, irons, plans dinners, shops for said dinners, cleans the house quickly before said dinner, and tosses a ball around outside with the boys while chasing Bella around the yard. (And by the way I am working 2-3 times a week consistently till the middle of May.) All the while, I am sleeping in, getting pedicures, manicures, massages, facials, shopping for new Spring clothes, working out, reading for pleasure, and drinking Starbucks while catching up with friends I have not called back, or e mailed in weeks because of my massage and facial appointments taking up so much time! UGH!

Are you kidding me? I am trying so hard not to be selfish because I know Larry is really busy at work and with school, but....there is that word! I am busy too. I want a break from what I am doing too! He thinks because "I stay home all day" that I get a break. What do I do when Bella naps, not update my blogg like I would like my friends:) All I want is for him to notice I am here, I am working hard too. This is a very trying time at this house and any prayers for peace and patients are appreciated.

Wow, I feel better now! I needed to get that baggage off my chest. I need all my readers to see that we are not all smiles and giggles. I try so hard to make it seem that way, but a very dear friend told me that it is ok to let it out at times. So, there it is. The Kennedy's are normal people with the same issues many of you have. There is life between the snaps of the camera and there are moments we are glad are not captured by the Kodak. However, at the end of the day we all say we love each other and are thankful it is US that get to share the good times and the bad. We are a family and despite even the ugliest of moments we are glad to take this journey together!

Thank you for listening! May the peace of Christ be with each of you this Holy Week! Our Love!

Since Spring Break......

Bella has decided to help her brothers out with chores around the house. It is the boys responsibility to collect trash and take it to the large trash can outside. Last week Bella wanted to "help" so the boys let her. She was so proud of herself.

Here Bella is helping Zak put her trash in the big bag for him to take outside.

Bella has started running EVERY WHERE! She is non-stop from the time she wakes up until she crashes at nap time, then back at it until bed time. Notice the goose egg on her forehead. This is from running (literally) into a wall.

We were able to spend a Saturday with Randy and Stella in honor of Randy's ?0th Birthday. It was a very enjoyable afternoon. It is so nice to see our family. Being so close is going to be terribly missed when we move to MD. Thankfully we have 3 more years of being close!

Finally, Bella MUST do everything for herself. It is trying on my patients since I do not have a lot of time to allow it, but we are working together to make it through this period of new found independence. In this photo she was insistent on putting my headband on. She worked and worked at it and finally was successful at getting it on her head. I tried to show her how and help, but that just prolonged her progress because she has an I can do it ATTITUDE!

Having to try one more time because I "fixed" it for a photo. Silly me....

In her new found independence has come her need to feed herself. It is fine when I have NOTHING to do, but that is not very often, so it is beginning to stress me out. She simply refuses to eat if I try to feed her. Apparently this is not the case with Ms. Ann and her Daddy, but for Mommy it is. I try really hard to be patient and find foods she will eat that are not as messy as the yo'Baby yogurt, but I am not all that successful. I keep telling myself this too shall pass, but until it does she eats in just a diaper and I begin meal time 30 minutes earlier than before.

First she sticks both hands in the yogurt......

Then realizes I gave her a spoon which she holds in her month as she dumps the yogurt on her tray......

And finally, shes got it. Spoon in yogurt, all over her face, but at last she is getting the correct concept!!!

Long Over Due

Warning....I wanted to update, but I did not have a lot of time. I started and had technical difficulties so I did not spell check....grammar check ect. Read at your own risk!




Four generations!

Nik's Pine Car Derby was in January. Larry's CPTN helped Nik cut his car for the race and since has been asking for a picture of Nik with the car. I finally got around to it this week and when I did Bella was so sure I wanted her picture she kept crawling up on the harth with Nik.

Bella sure she was supposed to be in the photo too!

My Grandma Rossetto came home last week with me. She and I are having a great time running errands and hanging out with Bella. Grandma picked up a book of animals at random this week and started making animal sounds with Bella. Bella will now say "meow" for a cat, "roar" for the tiger, "wuff wuff" for the dog, and hold her nose when Grandma points to the skunk. If Grandma so much as sits for a second Bella has the book out and wanting Grandma to play with her. Also, any where we go if I let Bella walk she has to hold mine and Grandma's hand. It is so sweet!

All worn out from shopping and Kindermusic

Yes, she is eating Cheetos. We went out to eat and I was desperate to
quiet her.

I ordered her a grilled cheese and it came out on a loaf of bread....

Recap of Spring Break. Last week the kids and I spent Wednesday-Sunday at my parents house. Saturday night I helped host a 30th surprise party for my friend Chandra. It went off without a hitch! Everyone had a blast and Chandra was actually surprised!

Me, Stacy and Alicia at the party

The hostesses with a bottle of "Mommy's Time Out"

The group waiting for the Birthday Girl



Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday I spent the day shopping and dinning at places in Gillespie, Carlinville and Litchfield I went to when I was a kid. It was so much fun sharing it with Zak, Nik, and Bella. Enjoy my trip down memory lane......

Grandpa Mike and Bella watching some basketball. By the way she was calling him "pa" by the time we left Il. His heart was busting with joy!

Grandpa Mike and Nik having a drink over some basketball

Bella in the door of the only dry cleaners in town

Bella playing football with my Grandpa Hayes

Thursday Chandra invited us to her house to celebrate her birthday.....little did she know:)

The original 222A girls

Happy 30th Chandra!

Ayla's crayon bouquet

Bella and Zak in front of a dinner my Mom use to take my sister and I to for soup on Saturdays.

Zak and Bella in front of a mirror at My Sisters Closet. My sister and I would drive my Mom crazy over who got to sit on the ledge of it.

I had to buy Bella something at My Sisters Closet

The week before we went to Il Bella got chicken pox. Needless to say I was pretty busy that week. Thus, the long delay in updating the blogg. I will do better or at least try.

And One More Makes 9 Rossetto-Kennedys

Nope, I am not pregnant, but my sister is engaged! Two weeks ago Mike Woods asked Michelle to marry him! They will be walking down the aisle in the summer of 2010. Our entire family excitedly welcomes Mike and his family into ours. We could not have asked for her to have met a better Man. He is warm, kind, loving, funny and most importantly anyone that spends more than 5 minutes with them will see he genuinely loves Michelle. Now if we could just get him over to the Republican side he would be perfect.....

Congrats you guys! Love and Best Wishes!

Random Photos Worth Sharing

The kids and G-Ma playing in the snow

Bella helping the boys build a snowman

Mommy pick it up I am holding my baby

Bella sits on the Boppy and feed her baby

Bella's newest toy.....don't look Wendy:)

Bella and her "LaLa". LaLa is the daughter of a friend of mine that will be working as a Mother's Helper for us this summer. We are breaking her in slowly after school.

Bella loves my cell phone so I bought her one at the Disney Store a few weeks ago that looks like a pink Razor. It is the Disney Princess' and they talk to her. She loves it and walks around all day "talking" on it, carrying her purse and baby.....like mother like daughter!

I made spaghetti recently and let Bella have some....she loved it!

Yummy!

Bella in Nik's Navy sweatshirt!

Sick Mommy, Birthday Boy, and a Trip from G-Ma

Me trying to be "creative"

Most adorable 6th grade boys one could find!

Zak helping Bella bowl

Zak's birthday kiss!

Zak and his homemade cake!

****I cannot figure out how to get the photos in the body to go along with what I have to say so you bloggers out there that can help.....advice needed and wanted****

On Tuesday I took Bella to her "well baby" 15 month check up. To my surprise, I was the one that needed to be seen by the doctor on Tuesday. I woke up that morning feeling queasy but chalked it up to having to take Bella to the doctor. Thankfully we had an early morning apt. because by noon Mommy was not able to hold anything in. Yuck! By the Grace of God I was better by Wednesday afternoon and back on my feet totally by Thursday.

Wednesday Zak turned 12.....that means only 3 more birthdays till he can drive a car! No way....not happening....how can I let my kids in a car without a responsible adult driving? Anyway, I still have time to digest that thought, so I will focus on this year. We had a party for him Friday night complete with bowling, pizza, hot wings, a Madden Football Tourney, and ice cream cake. He and his 10 closest buddies had a blast and I was happy to provide the entertainment for them.

Thursday after work I was a Clorox queen! I have been told before one could preform surgery on my floors. After Thursday night, one would be correct. There were no "germies" in this house....that was till Larry came home Friday night with an upper respiratory flu! I have been following him around with a Clorox wipe and praying none of the kids get it. I had a scare at Mass tonight when Nik turned white as snow and I felt like he was going to puke. Thankfully it looks like he just got hot kneeling and is fine.

Friday afternoon brought Carla for a visit. We took the kids out for some errands yesterday. As we were leaving Larry told me to not be out to long because we were supposed to get snow....yah right...it was 70 on Friday! I listened however and made it home about 45 minutes before Mother Nature dumped 9 inches of snow on us! It was beautiful and is the longest lasting snow we have seen here!

Bella

Since my lasts post were less then creative, I decided to just post photos and captions in Bella's post. Enjoy!



Bella loved pulling her Valentine's Day cards out of the envelopes.

Nik playing with Bella

Bella helping Mommy fold the laundry....trying to make less work for me by putting Daddy's sock on.

Determined

Forget it I will just play with the sock

Bella playing with Louis at the Cimmino's Superbowl party. Yep, she plays with trucks and GI Joes....well rounded young lady!

Your Valentine's Day cards are still in my backpack....addressed, stamped, and ready to go....I just forgot to send....and by the way this was the best photo I got of the three of them....why can't they just sit, smile and be perfect for a quick moment for me to get a perfect photo??

Helping Daddy pull the car into the garage

This is the cutest outfit!

We went the a Pep Rally at the boys school. Bella kept walking up to the lady on the MC. She finally let Bella address the crowd. She babbled something and everyone clapped for her. She is well know at St. Ann not only among the staff but also the students!