Like I need more issues?

So....
Michael thought that Pixel (our 8 year old cat) needed a companion. Not to mention that he is home with her everyday now, but she is not a lap cap (which I think he was looking for). So this past weekend we went to the local animal shelter. We debated over a 4 mouth old kitten and a year old cat. I thought....older cats are harder to place so lets adopt the older cat. So we did, and named her Cali (short short for California).
The only problem was that the cat did not like me, Michael, Francesco, Pixel or even Nicolo for that matter. We tried but no matter what we did that cat was vicious and dangerous. I just could not risk the health (cat bite infection) of my children or my other animal. Plus what is the point of getting another cat (family member) who stays in one room all the time because she can't socialize with any of us?
So, Cali went back and as bad as I felt about the whole thing I had to remind myself that I have to think of my family as a whole and not of just that one animal. Michael took her back and came home with a ~ 4 month old male kitten who is black and white.
More so he is that he is sweet, laid-back, non-aggressive, loves to be handled, loves to be held, thinks Nicolo is the bee's knee's and totally respects Pixel and her outburst - all which consist of a little bit if hissing and a meow (that chick is all talk and no action).
Aston, as we have named him in tribute to our HOMETOWN, is super laid back, knows how to stepback from Pixel and LOVES Nicolo soooo much. It's like they were meant to meet. My photo is Aston, sleeping with Nicolo and this scene is a huge sigh of relief for me!



A day ago my Nicolo was in full blown tears because the psychotic cat we brought home tried to bite him completely unprovoked. He did not understand, he was being so gentle and she attacked him. It is hard explain to your 3 year old he did not do anything wrong, seeing your child break down after being completely appropriate with an animal and they still attacks - is hard. The last thing I need is for my Animal Lover to become fearful of animals. Aston has turned that around completely an we all love him...even Pixel...she just does not know it yet!

100th Day

It's been a while but we are still here at I Miei Due Bambini, we just happen to be on the other coast now. The move to CA went well, a few issues with getting our cars here but overall not bad. It really hit me when our cars showed up, driving a rental car when we first got here made me fell like a visitor. Once my mini-van got here it was official, we moved.
So far all is going well. The kids are adjusting better and quicker than I am. The one thing I can say that I am completely impressed with is Francesco's school and teacher. She has been so helpful and such a great influence on him with this transition. He still asks for his prior teachers and class mates but he is really enjoying his new school.
Coming up soon he was assigned a 100th Day of School project. We had to get 100 of something and display it for the occasion. In the process of the move we found a box of Pez Dispensers and since we have gotten here we came across it again. I can't find the towels, but I found the Pez Dispensers. We thought that would be different and we had 100 of them so it fit the bill. Thanks to my sister (who both Francesco and I miss the most) we used pipe cleaners and foam core board for the display.
Pixel of course had to get in the picture - as you can see she made it here in one piece too.


The Star Wars ones are both Francesco and my favorites.


I am hoping as we continue to settle I will find a little more time to blog. Now I really need to keep this up so all my wonderful friends and family can see what i miei due bambini are up too.

The Reason...

for the season.

Change

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

~ Mark Twain

That being said, change is on the horizon for all of us here at I Miei Due Bambini. I accepted a new job and with acceptance of that new position we will be relocating. Now we don't do things small around her, by relocating we are going to the West Coast. Just typing that gives me a knot in my stomach, but we are really doing it.

I am really excited about my new position, I am going to be doing the same type of work as now but working on a new project as well as an advanced position. We are also fortunate that both my sister-in-law and brother-in-law live in the town we are moving to and only 5 minutes away. Another blessing is Michael does not need to find a new job, whewww! Our kids are young and seem to be excited about the move, it all just seem to be falling into place. It's still very crazy and busy here! I picked a fine time of the year to move, let alone relocate across the country.

Wish us luck! Here is hoping you all have a very Merry Christmas and an extremely Happy New Year. I will update as soon as we settle.

Mom Moment - "what you are doing matters"

I just had one of those "Mom Moments", you know the ones that melt your heart and tell you what you are doing matters.

Francesco fell earlier today on his bike and hurt his left abdomen by landing on the handle bars, ouch! He will have a bruise and he is sore but otherwise okay, thanks to his helmet. I of course came to his rescue, and did all the things a mom would do, from kissing it, to rubbing it, to just reassuring him he was okay. Then at dinner he complained because his pants were irritating the sore spot. I offered to get his PJ's on after dinner to help with the discomfort . So, once we got his jammies on I asked him if he was okay and he said yes. I then said, "see jammies make it all better!" He says to me, "actually, you make it all better!"

I literally was at a lost for words, and for those of you who know me know that is rare. My mouth dropped, my heart burst and I had that moment. I had that, "what you are doing matters" moment. Loved it!

I had to put this down so as to A) share and B) have it to come back to when I need it (when he is about 15 - LOL).

And, just because a post seems unfinished without a photo, here are my two boys that have taken me on this great adventure of motherhood and I couldn't have asked for any better!

The Kids Where Here {4}

“The things which the child loves remain in the domain of the heart until old age. The most beautiful thing in life is that our souls remaining over the places where we once enjoyed ourselves” ~Kahlil Gibran

I haven't had the time

I can not even start to tell you all that has been going on and in due time I will (just so you know I am not pregnant). I did however after a long absences take a few photos. It feels like forever since I hit the shutter. I really wish I had more time but I just don't. I miss my blogosphere friends and family. I am also hoping Jessie will understand.
This a a photo I took in the fall a year ago...

this on I took today!

What is it about taking a portrait that does not involve the face that really moves me?
Wow, even in their legs you can see how they have grown.