Let's Snuggle

Francesco is always refusing to "snuggle". According to him, you only snuggle at night and in bed. I will want to snuggle with him in the morning and he will say no, but it's okay to have him lay against me, hug him and kiss him on the head (basically snuggle). Don't tell him that!

Tonight he did his usual stall tactics at bedtime. Being it's Friday, we are much more lenient about the exact time he goes to bed. When I did finally get him to his room his last ditch effort was the request to "snuggle".

How could I refuse, the day will come when he won't want to be in the same room as me. So we snuggled.

I said to him, "you know when you're ten you won't want to snuggle with me." He tell me he want to make it to 100(year old). I said, "I hope you do."

He then says, "we need to make it to 100 together" (I almost cried, he said it so sincere). I told him I would try, but I did not think that would happen. He proceeds to then tell me I should at least get to 7 (years old)- I chuckled. I tell him I have already been there.

He then reminds me, "Do you know why I have to get bigger mommy? "

"Why?"

"So I can drive till I am 100."

"I hope you do, baby."

"I am not a baby!"

"What are you then?"

"Your sweetheart, goodnight mommy!"

You got that right! Good night SWEETHEART!

I will miss this time but I won't forget it!

Team Up Thursday - Mirror

The theme Jen and I went with this week was mirror. We apparently both had the same idea and spend a bit of time in our cars. As much as they are alike they are also very different. I love her DOF and how the raindrops are in focus but the building behind is blurred. In mine I focused in the mirror and the edges are slightly blurred.

For more Team Ups:

Hosted by Megan and Hip Momma

You say ice cream...I say Gelato!

My husband offered to take us out for dinner the other night. We had a great time, we sat in a booth right next to the kitchen. This was optimal since it was a noisy spot and we had the kids. They thought the chef's were burning the food when they did a little flambé.
Francesco wanted ice cream but all they served was Gelato. He was upset at first because I think he thought Gelato was Jello.

I tried to explain to him that Gelato was the Italian version of ice cream. When he finally finished his Gelato he exclaimed. I like being an Italian Gelato!
I love the fact that he identifies with ice cream!
Buon Appetito!

Best Shot Monday - Circle Time

I took a half-hour today to visit my son's class during circle time. It was the best half-hour of my day! I am so grateful my boys are so close to me.



Francesco dancing to a cute song called, "Hi, My name is Joe."

For more best shots:

Love it, current favorite shot.

I may regret posting this, I may have nothing for Monday but I love, love, love this shot of my boy. I am very critical of all my work and I get so excited when I produce something I love.

I am drawn in by the details of his face along with the emotion of complete joy. I want to be him at this moment. I want to be 4 years old, in my backyard pool with beautiful weather.

I do believe I was this at one time but I, don't have a picture to prove it...he will.

Team-Up Thursday - School

Jen and I went with the theme School this week. I couldn't believe it when she told me her daughter was starting 1st grade today. First off it's only the beginning of August and is Jen even old enough to have a full fledged 1st grader?
I love the shot she took, I had a similar idea in my head. I thought about having Francesco practice some letters but getting him to cooperate was a daunting task that I was not able to accomplish.



I settled for the more cooperative building that they go to school in each day. This building is not technically a school, it was the original hospital at the place I work but now it does hold a school, administrative offices and research. The building stood still the whole time I was taking it's photo and did not give me any lip.

Head on over to :
Hosted by Megan and Hip Momma

Best Shot Monday: Welcome

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.
~ Rajneesh



Welcome to the world Jacob and welcome to motherhood Nicole!

The Boy

Of all the animals, the boy is the most unmanageable.
~Plato

But I still wouldn't trade him for anything!

Team-Up Thursday - Close-Up

Jen and I decided to pick the theme "close-up" for this week. Luck would have it that I came across this "bug" on my van door one morning. I grabbed my camera and tried to hold my breath while i took a shoot. I really wish I had a macro lens and used my tripod. BTW- it took me days to figure out that this is a Ailanthus Webworm Moth. It drove me crazy trying to figure out what it was. It wasn't until my friend Shelly mentioned it had the head similar to a butterfly that I was able to narrow it down to butterfly/moth and eventually find other photos on the internet of my weird "bug".

Now Jen's photo is just beautiful. I love vintage jewelry and I have a ring that is so similar to her's. I love that she is honoring her TEN year anniversary (Happy Anniversary Jen). I love the detail and the depth of field.

It's been interesting getting to know Jen with this project. We have more similarities all the time. We both are drawn to Owl's because they remind us of our Grandmothers. We have the same taste in jewelry. We love photography. We both have two kids and wonderful husbands (she's been married twice as long though).

Can I just say that if someone asked me, "who would you most like to have dinner with?" I would definitely say the "New Green Mamma" Jen!.

For more great dips:

Hosted by Megan and Hip Momma

Photo-Walk Photos

Here are a few more shots from the Photo-Walk. I really wish now that I would have written down what the statues were. I am looking forward to next years already. I am hoping to get into a group that will go around a different part of the city.
I learned of new places last year and this year going on the photo-walks. I even lived in the city itself for three years and didn't know all about it.

The shade was so nice that day, anything to get out of the blazing sun.


Statue around the back of the museum, I believe it of a Chief Justice.


Berries in a tree that was along the walkway down to the Waterworks.


Women from the big fountain just in front of the museum.


Looking down the parkway into center city.


Looking up from the ground to the art museum.


A park bench on the side of the museum.


The cityscape, I want to say that the tallest build is Comcast, which makes One & Two Liberty Place look small (buildings to the right).


Flare from behind a strange statue we found on the backside of the museum.

Best News Monday

I still think I might just be dreaming but I found out today that my photo was picked as the winner of our group for the Photo Walk I participated in. On Saturday July 24th Shelly and I went to the Art Museum in Philly to participate in Scott Kelby's 3rd Annual Worldwide Photo Walk. Mind you it was 100 degrees with an heat index of 110 that day. We were dripping wet by 9:40 a.m. and our water seem to magically evaporate before we could drink it.

We found these words in the sidewalk down behind the Waterworks. We ventured down there due to the shade and some interesting wall textures. I am glad we went down there now. It's a part of the city I never knew about even after living in it for 3 years.



I don't know what to say except I am completely honored to have my photo picked and excited to be entered into the "Big" contest. I am also thankful to Shelly for going on this walk with me this year. Hopefully next year the weather and our schedule will be better.

Pinch me!