Finally....HOORAY!

We are Orinthologists

So we have become orinthologists by default lately. We have become well versed in the habits of pigeons and finches. Not because we like birds (I think they are dirty) but because they now are "renters" on our porch. Back when there was a frost in April I went to bring in my ferns and realized that little finches had taken up residence in the bushes. I felt obligated to leave them there b/c one) they had started to build nests and two) they surely would get cold with no where to lay there head that cold evening. Since then my ferns are half dead but their is tiny little finches growing on our porch. I am careful not to disturb as I carefully water the plant as I try to keep the alive half of my fern alive.
Then along came the pigeons. Mojo tried three times to foil their plans to take residence on our porch, but he failed. He figured after the third attempt to let them be b/c they seem to really love the spot. Now mother pigeon spends her days watching and waiting for her little ones to come. It seems that the word has gotten out that this is THE house for birds. For two years in a row chimney sparrows have built nests in our chimney which end up falling down into our living room. For two years I have mothered the little ones (which happen to be the loudest bird species). One year I took them to the delightful animal rehab place called Walden's Puddle...it really is a sanctuary for critters! Anyway, I think they spread the word that we dont like birds but we will take care of them if they inhabit our property...
I look at other houses with the same porches and the same ferns but they keep coming to ours! We have four ferns (four ruined ferns) each with a nest and some babies....They know I am a new mothers myself and cant help leave them be.
So, bird poop and dead ferns cloud my view but Mother Nature finds me as a friend.

Summer Reading List

As most of you know, I have been working as a school based therapist for graduate school. Well, as the year winds down, the kids are winding UP! Most days its mayhem and my sessions end up being about who hit who and why. Anyway, I took two kids to the library the other day to give them a break as they were heating things up. As they looked up their favorite rap artists on the web and proceeded to play the videos loudly...I took a breathier a wandered through the tiny volume of books they have. I decided to make myself a a summer reading list. So much of my brain power lately has been taken up with reading that I HAVE to do so I decided to give myself a list of books to be completed by the end of summer. Most of the books I read in high school and are still classics and I am excited to read again, some I never have and am looking forward to sitting on my back porch and have lazy summer days. I am actually thinking of purchasing all of them because one day I am sure Maggie will be required (or want) to read them. Here's my list. Give me suggestions and let me know if you have any books that you like to pull out in the summer....

Things Fall Apart
A raisan in the sun
Farenheit 451
A Separate Peace
Heart of Darkness
As I lay dying
The Pearl
The house of Mango Street
The chosen (one of my favs!)
Anne Frank:Diary of a young girl
Beowulf

more pics of Mothers day

Mother's Day Love

Lots of happenings since I last posted. I have a post ready to put up regarding having some great friends come through to visit and our trip to Philly. But here are some sweet Mother's day photos! For some reason blogger is giving me trouble with photo layouts so you'll have to turn your head to see some of these!

easter!!!!

Last weekend was so fun even though Maggie and I were under the weather. We would have taken more Easter pictures but Mags had a bit of an "issue" and ruined her pretty outfit. She loved her basket although she loved to eat the outside of the egg which i guess is best since she cant eat the inside candy yet. On another note, Maggie's latest thing is sticking out her tongue. She's obsessed! I think she think its like a smile but more. So if she greets you with sticking out her tongue, know that its her way of saying she really likes you!

Newness

Loving the outdoors

I am proud to announce that Maggie loves being outside. We have really enjoyed the weather lately-i will work in the yard and she will just sit on a big blanket and smile at people passing by. It's made yard work alot easier for me b/c i know she is enjoying being out there so much. Please stop by and see our new ferns which have cozied up our front porch. come sit and swing and drink ice tea.

The Street Weekend

Our favorite Streets came into town this weekend. No, not our favorite british band but Sara and Brian! Mojo was a happy man as the Streets are way into basketball. We had such a fun and relaxing weekend!!! We loved the weekend! Maggie LOVED Sara and Brian and missed them terribly but they are coming back soon!!! Thanks for coming!

Maggie "stats"

I forgot to mention Maggie's stats when she went to her 6 month check up, almost a month ago.
She weighed in at 16 lbs. 13.5 oz. and is 27 in.
She is eating baby food (but doesnt like peas) and is sitting up quite nicely!

Daddy and Maggie

Beach pictures

4 generations of italians..well, Maggie's only a 1/4

R & R in CA

We just got back from a short but relaxing trip to sunny CA. A much needed rest awaited us plus Maggie got to meet special people that she hasn't met before like her Aunt Nikki and Great Grandma Emily! The first couple days all we did was sit by the pool, go for Maggie's first swims and rest. We ate one too many In and Out burgers and Mojo drove to find his fish tacos and rice and bean burritos. He was a happy man. Mags got to spend lots of time with her grandma those first days and hug on her Aunt Nikki and Uncle Spencer. After that, my sweet hubby surprised me by taking me up to Hollywood and letting me splurged on fun clothes from Melrose Ave. Sunday Night we went down to Laguna and ate yummy seafood and drank wine by the ocean. Monday we spent the day down at Huntington Beach, which is fast becoming one of my favorite spots when we go out there. Maggie loved the beach and we ate the best calamari of my life there! Then we went down to Laguna Beach to watch the sunset. We ran into one of Matt's high school buddies who told us about this little restaurant right on the sand near Newport Beach. You park across the highway and then take a shuttle to this little secluded spot down on the water. We got steak and swordfish and it was great! They had heaters on the deck and warm blankets to get cozy with-it's called the Beachcomber if you ever want a great date and are near there.
One of the best things though was Maggie spending time with her great grandma who is 93ish! So sweet! We came back to wonderful blossoms on the trees and hopefully spring is here to stay. Today Maggie is still adjusting to the time change and I'm spring cleaning and filling our house with tulips and daffodils!

We are ready for warmer weather!

So mommy and me had a bit of a fashion show today. She was so excited to buy me a swimsuit, we decided to try on a couple o my new warmer weather clothes! My mommy needs a vacation and so she's getting me ready for the beach! hopefully we can take a family break for the sun soon!

i'm cute

I actually went out in public with this outfit on....

So my mommy gets home from work, takes one look at me and says to daddy...."are you serious?" she thought maybe he was trying to be funny!
I went to a coffee house in this oufit! i kept telling my daddy that my shirt was backward and my pants and socks dont match but he just thought i was adorable! my mommy changed me immediately....

My cute hat finally fits!