Happy Birthday to You, Mema!

(5: 58 this morning...you were our first thought...well, maybe second after "ELLIE! GO BACK TO BED AND STOP WAKING ME UP SO EARLY!!!!")

Winter Wonderland

SNOW!

Venturing out before the real snow started falling

Making a mini snowman with Daddy

Jaxie gets in on the fun

Ellie throws her first snowball

A visit with neighbor friend Sawyer

Mmm...hot cocoa with marshmallows!

The heavy snow started falling so we were stuck inside. Ellie made good use of the time putting Dan, Lamb Chop, and Pink and Yellow (Lovies) to sleep on the floor and tucking them in. Jaxie "holds Dan's hand" to get in on the snuggling. Ha!

Ordinary Joy

Nothin' Fancy...just good to share. :)

Daddy gets ready to flip Ellie

Whee!

Just woke up and mommy promised to read books by the fire; Ellie is excited

Ellie eats a cookie (at WSP Christmas party)

Ellie at cookie table with friend Kelsey

We Have Arrived

It's official. We have arrived at the terrible twos. Today was pretty much all the proof I needed. Tara came over in the morning and met us for a fun-filled day of shopping. We started with a trip to the coffee shop and then went to the Super Mall. Everything was fine until all of a sudden, Ellie started crying because I said, "Hey Missy? Did you drink Mommy's latte?" (I was smiling, teasing, not scolding, etc). From that moment, I have NEVER seen Ellie act like she did. She WAILED SOOO SOOO SOOO loud in Nordstrom Rack, we had to leave. I thought for sure I might be asked to leave because my child was hurting business. :O I couldn't calm her no matter what I said so we went to the play area hoping to distract her and move on. Ready for this? She lay on the floor kicking and beating fists into carpet (this is like a bad scene from a movie, seriously) and whining. So I said, "Tell mommy when you are done and then we will talk." Tara and I drank our lattes and chatted, all the while Ellie having this tantrum like I have NEVER seen, and the other moms looking at me like I win Poster Mom for Mommy of a Two Year Old. Finally, after what seemed like FOREVER, she quit for a minute so I picked her up, hugged her, and put her in the stroller. Of course, it all started again. Wailing, kicking, swatting the air, etc. I couldn't believe it. She WOULD NOT STOP no matter what I did/said/did not do/ etc. So I told Tara, "Sorry, but we have to leave." I told Ellie that her behavior was unacceptable and if she continued we would go home, so what else could I do? I had to follow through. She cried all the way to the car (people still staring at me) and halfway home until she fell asleep and then napped for almost 3 hours. BIZARRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know what the issue was. She was overtired??? She woke up a bit congested so maybe on the brink of a cold/not feeling well? Who knows! I was just in total shock at her behavior. She is so articulate that we have NEVER had to have a moment like that because we always talk things out. Honestly, I saw a pregnant girl watch us as we were leaving and I literally could see her thinking, "Oh God, what did I get myself into?" On the plus side, while she slept, I was able to get some Christmas wrapping done, read a book, and take a nap by the fire. Another bizarre "this never happens" moment. When she woke up, we had lunch and went to Fred Meyer. Dan was home so we got to spend several hours with him so that was a highlight. And that was pretty much my day. Pretty lame except for the coffee in the morning (mmmmm...thanks Tara!) and the time with Dan in the evening. I am currently roasting my THIRD chicken this evening (making four batches of Enchiladas) and about to paint my nails "Lincoln Park After Dark" while watching a Lifetime Christmas Special. Not a bad way to end the evening in my opinion. :) Sorry no pictures. A) You definitely would not want to see the monster child I dealt with this morning and B) I would REALLY have gotten some stares if I chose Ellie's tantrum as a Kodak moment! Hope your day was smoother than mine. :) Love to All, Ang

Tis The Season

Happy Holidays! Christmastime is such a fun time with a two year old because I feel like this is the first year that Ellie might remember what she sees/experiences etc. Last night, we went to see Santa at Bellevue Square. Ellie was very reluctant to sit with Santa (until Mommy and Daddy joined her) and then just before our turn was through, she turned to Santa and said, "Santa, please you bring me a drink and a cup and candy and a giraffe toy?" She said it really fast like "I better get this in quick in case I don't see him again." It was cute. Then we went outside to Snowflake Lane on Bellevue Way. We saw Frosty, two snow princesses, a penguin, a polar bear and Rudolph. The snow machines dropped snow, the drummer boys drummed and Ellie danced to her heart's content. I think her favorite part was when the snow princess gave her a peppermint lollipop. All in all, it was a great time.

Also, I did not get any pictures of our family getting our tree this year (or decorating it for that matter...oops!) but here are some cute ones of Ellie and Jaxie by the tree.

Love to All,

Ang

Ciabattari Family

I Love these:

Moving Out and Moving On

Happy December! So much change is brewing for our little family! First, my nephew was born on November 20, 2008...Nathan Ciabattari. He was born 7 lbs 9 oz and 21 inches long. He is so cute...like a little Vietnamese version of my brother. :) Mary and the rest of the family are doing well and Olivia is already proving to be a very involved big sissy.

Second, Dan has been selected to be a PIO (Public Information Officer) for Western Washington. This is a specialty position within the rank of trooper. He is really excited and I know he will do great. Make sure to look for him if you watch Western Washington news! :) Anyway, because of this opportunity and the recent hiring freeze in the WSP, we have decided to stay in Western Washington. We have our house officially on the market and hope to sell and buy something a bit bigger, but are also fine with keeping our roots in our little Milton house, if that is God's plan. Spokane is still an option, we've just put it on the back burner for awhile. Third, Ellie is in the "potty training process" unofficially. I have no real clue how to teach her so I am just doing what I think I should to encourage the process. I can honestly say, I am totally at a loss with this one. In any case, here are some pictures of her "progress."

Hooray!

Way to go!

and then we are back to where we started... :)

Finally, no news in the baby department. Please continue to pray that God will bless us with a healthy pregnancy soon!

Lots of Love, Ang

A White Black Friday

Today is Black Friday and we are still in Spokane enjoying our Thanksgiving holiday. Of course, it really is a white Black Friday because it has been snowing all day!

And how long is that? Well, for me, my day started at 4:30 this morning when I joined the rest of the ridiculous people and stood in line for the stores to open. I have never shopped on Black Friday and didn't really need anything today but I thought it would be fun to see what the hype was all about. Lisa met me in line (and brought lattes...thanks Sissy!) and we had the most fun! In fact, I don't think I have enjoyed shopping that much in a long time. First, Ellie was at home with Mema and Papa so I was free to shop 'til I dropped. Second, I didn't need anything so that was very liberating and I wasn't stressed out about getting a good deal. Third, I was shopping with my sister which I NEVER get to do anymore (especially without our kids!!!!!!!!!) and we are two peas in a pod when it comes to shopping. :) It was really fun to be right in the middle of all the excitement. And what was Ellie doing???

Playing with Mema, of course. In fact, I think I have been replaced. She pretty much only wants Mema at this point. :) Ellie is having so much fun here I'm not sure how we will convince her to leave tomorrow. There is always so much noise, excitement, chaos and fun (along with a revolving door of visitors) that she is just in kid heaven. She and Nick and Olivia run all through Mema and Papa's house (with Jaxie chasing them) and stop only for holiday goodies, a drink of milk, or a photo op while in their newest change of dress up attire. Needless to say, she is sleeping well. :)

Here are a few more photos as evidence of the "noise, excitement, chaos and fun" that Ellie (and the rest of us) has been enjoying. Love to all! (stay tuned for Baby Noah Pictures...I need to download them from Lisa's camera)

Thankful

I have always been fortunate to be surrounded by the right people at the right time. In college, I met my three best friends: Elizabeth, Claire and Erin. They helped me to laugh when I tended to take everything too seriously, helped me cry when I was too proud to admit I was falling apart, and helped me see the amazing grace of God when I needed nothing else.

After college, my friends/colleagues at Federal Way High School taught me how to be an effective teacher, even to some of the toughest kids I'd ever known. I learned that age/background/culture etc were not barriers to friendship, especially when we were united by a common purpose. They shared my stress, halved my burdens, celebrated my wedding, welcomed my daughter, and honored my contributions as teacher.

And now, hundreds of miles away from my family, I have once again been blessed with the most amazing group of friends who not only love and support me like family, but also love my daughter as if she was their own. Being a stay-at-home mom could be very isolating...or so I have heard. I really wouldn't know because God has surrounded me with such an awesome circle of "mommy friends." We are each so different but we are bonded by our common love for our kids. Ruth is strong, candid, and carefree. Shawnta is compassionate, empathetic, and level-headed. Carla is funny, resourceful, and giving. Tiffany is so loving I want to hug her constantly. Angela is feisty, funny and sensitive. Amy is intelligent, good natured, and gentle. And Rosanna's capacity for love is limitless. And they are all AMAZING moms. Ellie loves all of these ladies (and their kids) like family and I keep thinking how lucky we both are to have them here at this time in our lives. Here are a few pictures of our recent get together, celebrating the pending birth of Ruth's third little someone.

Thanksgiving is just a few days away and I am so thankful for so many things: I am blessed with wonderful family, a cozy home, and good health. But this year, I feel especially grateful for the friends that God has placed in my life at what seems to have always been, and continues to be, the perfect place and time. Thank you to all my wonderful friends. I love you!

-Ang

One For Today

All Things San Diego

Tired of the rain? We are too...that's why we headed to San Diego one last time for a good dose of fun in the sun. This past week, we (along with Tara as our "Nanny") ventured to San Diego again. Dan had an awards breakfast and conference to attend on behalf of the WSP but the rest of the time, we were on vacation! Tara watched Ellie so Dan and I could have some time together. The conference included a complimentary dinner/party/dance on Petco Field and we had SO much fun! We played pitching games, ate, drank, and enjoyed the provided entertainment. I can officially say that I pitched a ball at Petco field and Dan called the bullpen from the dugout. The next day after the awards breakfast, Tara and I took Ellie to Sea World to feed the dolphins and see Shamu and Dan went to the conference. Later that night, Dan and I went to dinner at this great Italian restaurant in Little Italy. We ate outside (parmesean crusted sole fish...yummy!) and enjoyed a bottle of wine. I felt completely spoiled...two date nights in a row! Then we spent our last day at Coronado Beach. It was a nice break from the day to day rain routine here in Milton but it was still comforting to come home to the Northwest. Well, that's all for now...

Love to All,

Ang