boys will be boys

These two love to wrestle together (in their own sort of way). It is so fun to see them play and love each other. Although truth be told they are already starting to fight and bicker over toys too. I guess there must be an oposition in all things, right?

Go Jordan!

Funny things your kids do (or gross things): yesterday I was trying to get Aaron dressed (this is not my favorite part about 3 year olds- nothing is ok. If you choose their clothes they have a melt down. If you try to help them they have a melt down. If you don't help them they have a melt down. ) For no reason at all Aaron just looks and me and says "abbraccio mamma" (translation: "hug mommy") and then comes to hug my neck. He threw his arms around my neck and then proceded to wipe his nose in my hair with a nice back and forth cleaning movement. I swear kids think that moms are their own personal nose rags! So much for the anticipated cute moment.

Guess that shape

We made a cake for our neighbor as a birthday joke. It didn't look like the animal it was supposed to. Can you guess what it is? If you guess right, the prize is being the best interpreter of modern art. Answer is at the bottom of the post.

Kids are growing. Aaron started preschool this week. We are still doing Italian preschool too. Here's to hoping this kid will eventually be bilingual.

Jordan repeats EVERYTHING he hears. He says 40-50 words now. It is so fun to listen to his little squeaky voice say things.

We went on the little train at This is the Place State Park with our friend Roberto. The boys loved it!

I can never get these guys to simultaneously look at the camera. The answer is: skunk. It is supposed to be a skunk. Oh well, we can't all be good at cake decorating. :)

Sewing Projects

So I started to sew a little in Italy, and I've recently joined a quilting group to start getting a little better. I made this apron very last minute for a bridal shower for a cousin. My cousin Kim is getting married and the bridal shower theme was "honey-do list". So I whipped this up out of my fabric stash (because I decided to go 2 days before and didn't have time to go to the fabric store).

This is my first quilt from start to finish that I did everything all by myself. I paper pieced the top. I then did free motion quilting to quilt it together, and then sewed on the binding. It was a lot of work for a novice like me. Modesty aside I'm quite proud of myself and I really like this quilt.

Jordan's first haircut

We started out trimming Aaron's hair so that Jordan could see. Then we moved on to Jordan.

Before.

That smile quickly disappeared.

After.

This is our little garden. We've got zucchini and pumpkins up to our ears- or at least up to our kid's ears. Paolo thought it would be fun to take pictures of them in our gargen to show how tall the plants are.

I rarely get a good smile out of him. It's usually forced and with a scrunched up nose.

I love their faces. An expression can be worth a lot of words...

Paolo's comment when he saw this picture: baby squirrel.

5th Wedding Anniversary

5 years ago today I married my eternal companion! I love Paolo and know that he is a gift to me. Now our eternal family has 2 wonderful additions: Aaron and Jordan. I just wanted to tell my tesoro that I love him with all of my heart! -Julie

self-photo

The last time I tried to check out some blogspots, I turned around to find this little guy covered in strawberries! He is getting so big! He now tries to sing "I am a child of God" whenever he hears it, and he gets the last 3-4 words pretty good. He also loves to give kisses (something that Aaron never did). He is so happy and good natured. I love having Jordan around.

Since I never have pictures of me and the kids, I attempted some self-portraits. This is what I came up with. :)

My favorite is Jordan looking up and Aaron looking dead serious.

We had some friends from Italy who were passing by. This was our friend Roberto's hat that Aaron took and then took off on his trike. That same day we were inside playing and the boys were loving the attention from Roberto. They kept trying to steal his glasses. So Roberto held them up in the air and started to auction them off. He said, "what will you give me in exchange for these glasses?" Aaron without a seconds hesitation responded, "baby Jordan!" Quite the exchange!

Happy 4th of July!

I don't take enough pictures, or post very often. JOrdan is turning into quite the little boy. He eats like a pig and is still underweight. The boys keep me more than busy. Recently my m0m and step-dad came into town to visit. It was fun hanging out with grandma and grandpa Copple. We went to This is the Place State Park. The boys had a blast!

Aaron has said for the last 50 times straight: "Aaron on the train!" I think that was his highlight for the trip.

Cousins. I love my nieces and nephews and am happy when I get to see them.

The other highlight: petting the lambs and goats.

Or maybe it was the horseride.

A rare smile for the camera.


Just as a comment on the 4th of July. I'm not very eloquent but I do want to express my profound gratitude for the freedom I enjoy. I am so grateful for the many men and women throughout the history of this land that have sacrificed for political, religious, ethical, and all basic freedoms. Having lived abroad for a few years I am so grateful to have as much as I do. I do believe that we should be a nation under God. I feel like some of my core values are sometimes attacked and ridiculed. But I believe that as we love our Savior and our fellowmen, and protect the family that this nation will continue to be blessed.