Snow Days

The girls love the snow. First snowman ever for Catherine and all five of us took turns sledding down the hill together.

Second snowstorm of the year and it's only December.....
Gotta love that global warming.......

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Tiny Talk Tuesday helps parents focus on one of the many joys of parenting - the funny things that our little ones (and sometimes big ones) have to say.

Join in the fun and record the Tiny Talk overheard in your house!

Publish a post on your blog and link us to the laughs.
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Catherine has been looking through our birthday albums lately. She knows that when Natalie turned four we took her to Disney World. Catherine also knows that she was left at home with Grandma.

As we were packing yesterday to go to New York for a couple of days Catherine looked at Dennis and asked, " Are you going to leave me? Is Mommy going to leave me? Is Jenna going to leave me? Is Natalie going to leave me?"
(I think we scarred the child for life.)
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Christmas morning was very fun. We heard alot of "Oh my gosh," "This is great," "Wow," "Thank you, Mom and Dad"
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Merry Christmas

The girls were very excited about Christmas.




Jenna's first view of the presents on Christmas morning!




Natalie and Catherine were right on her heels, with grandma watching.



Three girls with the dresses grandma made.




Grandma with her six grandchildren. Each one believes they are the favorite.

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Tiny Talk Tuesday helps parents focus on one of the many joys of parenting - the funny things that our little ones (and sometimes big ones) have to say.

Join in the fun and record the Tiny Talk overheard in your house!

Publish a post on your blog and link us to the laughs.
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Mom: Natalie, do you want to spend the night at Grandma's house on Saturday?

Natalie: No

Mom: Why not?

Natalie: Because it's Hannukah and we have to be home for it.

Mom: LOL....honey, we don't celebrate Hannukah. (Of course I went on to discuss this with her. She was clearly listening at school this week.)
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Catherine was VERY wound up as she was getting ready for bed.

Daddy: Did you have a cup of coffee?

Catherine: No, but I would like a glass of wine please.
(I promise, we rarely give her wine.....)



For more Tiny Talk visit Not Before 7.

Yellow Belts

Kung Fu Sisters!
Jenna and Natalie each passed the test and were awarded Yellow Belts.
They were very proud of themselves, and mom and dad were too!




When you're in trouble, and have no where else to turn for help.
It's the dynamic duo to the rescue!




Equal parts tough and cute!

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Tiny Talk Tuesday helps parents focus on one of the many joys of parenting - the funny things that our little ones (and sometimes big ones) have to say.

Join in the fun and record the Tiny Talk overheard in your house!

Publish a post on your blog and link us to the laughs.
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Catherine decided not to nap one day and so I went upstairs to get her our of her crib.

Catherine: May I be excused please?

Mom: LOL
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I was in the kitchen one morning with Catherine. We could hear the water running in my bathroom.

Catherine: What's Daddy doing in the bathroom?

Mom: I don't know, maybe he's brushing his teeth.

Catherine: Maybe he's doing the animal on the farm dance. (What does that even mean, I wonder)
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For more Tiny Talk visit Not Before 7.

An Invitation to the Science Center

Along with a small group of her classmates, Jenna was asked to participate in a display at the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore. She wrote a paragraph on the "Butterfly Nebula" which was shown alongside a large photograph of the space phenomenon.

Her science class has recently focused on Astronomy, which has captured Jenna's imagination. Ask her a question about the stars or planets and get comfortable.....






The above reads: The Bufferfly Nebula looks like a butterfly. It is the death of a star five times bigger than our star, the sun. In my opinion, it is very beautiful because it has many colors. Its colors are white, pink, orange, green, and cream. There are many stars in the background.

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Tiny Talk Tuesday helps parents focus on one of the many joys of parenting - the funny things that our little ones (and sometimes big ones) have to say.

Join in the fun and record the Tiny Talk overheard in your house!

Publish a post on your blog and link us to the laughs.
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Grandma was over and she was helping Catherine do something....

Grandma: Here you go, Babe.
Catherine (age 2): My name is Catherine, not Babe.
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For more Tiny Talk visit Not Before 7.

The Office of What???

This is a government office near the White House. Hope they keep up the good work.......

A Day in D.C.

We headed down to Washington DC for a quick tour. We walked from the Capital, to the Monument, to the Memorial, the the White House and back.....three kids under 7 and one stroller, not the best combination.

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Tiny Talk Tuesday helps parents focus on one of the many joys of parenting - the funny things that our little ones (and sometimes big ones) have to say.

Join in the fun and record the Tiny Talk overheard in your house!

Publish a post on your blog and link us to the laughs.
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This is what we heard Natalie saying as she was playing with her barbies....

Honey, stop yelling for me from your room. If you need something, come and get me, I can’t be running through the house and I only have 2 hands.
(I wonder where she's heard that before...)

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Mom: Catherine, did you have fun in Washington today?

Catherine (2): I love Washington ABC
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For more Tiny Talk visit Not Before 7.

Halloween Parade

The girls were so excited about their school halloween parade. It was a nice day to be outside. In these pictures Jenna and Natalie see Grandma, Mema, cousin Nora, Uncle Jim and me. They were surprised to see us all there.

Halloween

This year Jenna was a pirate, Natalie a butterfly and Catherine a penguin. Dennis walked them through the neighborhood, that is until Catherine saw a wolf (ie. the boy up the street with a mask). Once that happened she was done. Dennis brought her back and she helped give out candy to our neighbors.



For the school parade Natalie decided to wear her Spanish Flamenco dress that grandma bought her while in Spain.

Family Scarecrows

When we moved into our house three years ago, Dennis started this fun tradition. Every October he and the girls make family scarecrows for our front lawn. This year we added a scarecrow for the dog (she's in the lower left). Each family member helps stuff his/her own scarecrow and decides where they sit.

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Tiny Talk Tuesday helps parents focus on one of the many joys of parenting - the funny things that our little ones (and sometimes big ones) have to say.

Join in the fun and record the Tiny Talk overheard in your house!

Publish a post on your blog and link us to the laughs.
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Catherine was in her bed supposed to be napping but she was calling my name instead. I went in to see what was wrong.
Catherine: Mom, what do we do in the snow?
Mom: We sled, ski, make snowballs, make snow men and play.
Catherine: Okay.
I leave. Of course, she calls for me again and we repeat the entire dialog. I love having a two year old.
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Catherine was fighting daddy as I tried to dress her.
Daddy "Catherine, you drive me crazy"
Catherine "I know"

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Jenna and Natalie have started watching Looney Tunes. They love it when Daffy tells Bugs "You're Despicable".

Natalie came running up to Daddy and said "I have something nice to say to you daddy".
"What's that honey" , I asked
Big smile..."You're not despicable".
Gee, thanks






For more Tiny Talk visit Not Before 7.

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Tiny Talk Tuesday helps parents focus on one of the many joys of parenting - the funny things that our little ones (and sometimes big ones) have to say.

Join in the fun and record the Tiny Talk overheard in your house!

Publish a post on your blog and link us to the laughs.

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While watching Blue's Clues....

Catherine (age 2): I'm going to use a thinking chair when I'm older. I love thinking chairs.
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Jenna and Daddy were in the car on Saturday with the radio tuned to an "all 80s music" radio station. When the song "Who Can It Be Now" by Men at Work came on, Jenna listened as I sang along. The lyrics include:

Who can it be knocking at my door? Go 'way, don't come 'round here no more.
Can't you see that it's late at night? I'm very tired, and I'm not feeling right.
All I wish is to be alone; Stay away, don't you invade my home.
Best off if you hang outside, Don't come in - I'll only run and hide.
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?

Jenna listened, looked confused and asked "Why doesn't he just open the door and see who it is"?

Gotta love that logic.


For more Tiny Talk visit Not Before 7.

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Tiny Talk Tuesday helps parents focus on one of the many joys of parenting - the funny things that our little ones (and sometimes big ones) have to say.

Join in the fun and record the Tiny Talk overheard in your house!

Publish a post on your blog and link us to the laughs.
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Catherine (age 2) goes to Bible Study with me on Tuesdays. Last week she colored a picture of Moses.

I was talking to her about it and she said, "Moses, I love her."
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Jenna (age6) was born on November 18th. She has a friend who was born on
October 18th.

Jenna: If I were born on October 18th then Paris and I would be twin friends.

Mom: LOL



For more Tiny Talk visit Not Before 7.

Karate Competition

Both Natalie and Jenna began taking Karate lessons this year. They go every Saturday for one hour of very basic instruction. It's been good exercise, but they are not really showing great interest.

This Saturday, Natalie was sick and I took Jenna by herself for a lesson. Due to a communication problem, we did not know that they were having a tournament instead. They invited Jenna to join.

All daddy could think of was "oh, I hope she doesn't get hurt". She was the only white belt in the place and clearly the other kids were more serious about it. But she was very happy to participate.

She was one of only two kids in her weight class. The other was a boy with a yellow belt, so I thought she wouldn't get more than a bump or bruise.

First round the boy came at her and Jenna mostly covered herself, moved away and broke away when she was caught. The boy did get her to the ground one time and when the long three minute round was over, he won but Jenna had fun. It was announced that they would rematch in 30 minutes.

During the other fights, I took her aside and suggested that she try the "take down" move she had learned. It was the only thing Jenna practiced at home, mostly on dad. She said she would try.

When the rematch began the boy came after her again and Jenna backed away as she had the first time. I called to her "Jenna, do the take down". She smiled at me, ran at the boy, grabbed his shirt and threw him to the ground over her leg. She laughed and the ref looked shocked.

The boy got up and chased after Jenna again, who backed away. "Jenna, do it again" Daddy said. Jenna ran right at the boy and did the exact same thing. He hopped up. "Again Jenna" came the call. Thump, down went the yellow-belted boy a third time. He got up and backed away as they both heard daddy call "Do it again". The boy's mother was seated next me and I turned to her and said "She only knows one move, but she's pretty good at it".

Time ran out and the ref called them together and raised Jenna's hand as the winner. No one looked more shocked than her. Because they had only two kids in the weight class, she got the trophy.

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Tiny Talk Tuesday helps parents focus on one of the many joys of parenting - the funny things that our little ones (and sometimes big ones) have to say.

Join in the fun and record the Tiny Talk overheard in your house!

Publish a post on your blog and link us to the laughs.
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While standing on a chair Catherine announces, "I am a Christmas tree."
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Jenna came home from school with a paper she needed to finish. She had turned it in before she had completed the entire assignment. I spoke to her about checking her work before turning it in....

Mom: Jenna, by not making sure your assignment was complete what did this cause?

Jenna (6): A scene, a really big scene. (LOL...no, what I was thinking was extra homework, honey)
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For more Tiny Talk visit Not Before 7.

Book Festival

We had the chance today to go to the Book Festival in town. It was a dreary day, but the girls had a great time. We saw the characters Madeline, Franklin and Corduroy.

The Festival sets up a nice array of children's crafts. The girls made a stamp books, book markers, decorated pumpkins and then made their own masks.

We left just before the skies opened up. It was great couple of hours.

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Tiny Talk Tuesday helps parents focus on one of the many joys of parenting - the funny things that our little ones (and sometimes big ones) have to say.
Join in the fun and record the Tiny Talk overheard in your house!
Publish a post on your blog and link us to the laughs.
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Mom to Catherine (2): "P" is for Poppy

Catherine: "M" is for Mema and "S" is for Sparky
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Mom: Grass is green.

Catherine: and purple too... (hmmm..)
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For more Tiny Talk visit Not Before 7.

Science Center

I had the chance to take Catherine to the Science Center today. We had a blast! She loved the children's room. She played in the water table, played with the legos, "drove" a boat, and pushed the nail wall (that was her favorite). She was signed up for a "Digging in the Mud" class. Five minutes into the class, she walked over to the door and announced that she was done. So, we went home. That was okay, because we had a great morning together.

Poppy would love it if Catherine loved boats as much as he does.

This nail wall was her favorite.

Tiny Talk

Tiny Talk Tuesday helps parents focus on one of the many joys of parenting - the funny things that our little ones (and sometimes big ones) have to say.
Join in the fun and record the Tiny Talk overheard in your house!
Publish a post on your blog and link us to the laughs.
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Catherine (2): I'm going to be 3 in a couple of minutes. (not really....more like April)
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We were all playing around trying to see if we could get our tongues to touch our noses.

Jenna: Mom, you should be able to because you have a long nose. (gee, thanks)
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For more Tiny Talk visit Not Before 7.

Priceless

A new backpack and lunch box - $20


Buying lunch once a week - $2.50


The note that Jenna chose to write and put in Natalie's lunch box - PRICELESS

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Tiny Talk Tuesday helps parents focus on one of the many joys of parenting - the funny things that our little ones (and sometimes big ones) have to say.

Join in the fun and record the Tiny Talk overheard in your house! Publish a post on your blog and link us to the laughs.
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Catherine: I'm living the sweet life
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This is what I heard while Catherine was talking on the phone with her Daddy:

Jenna has a straw and Natalie doesn't.

Mom's just doing something.
(I love phone conversations of two year olds)

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For more Tiny Talk visit Not Before 7.

The First Day of School '09

First day of school for the DiMaggio girls. They woke up happy, finding notes taped to their doorknobs from mom and dad wishing them a great day. The rushed downstairs to wake up Aunt Ashley who had spent the night, gobbled up a big pancake and scrambled eggs breakfast and welcomed grandma who came to see them off.











They have been waiting all summer to use their backpacks and proudly showed them off.








When it came time to go to the bus, they paced with excitement. They confidently climbed the stairs, thankfully oblivious to mom and dad's anxiety.







Grandma and Daddy followed the bus so that Daddy could meet them between the bus and the front door. They came off the bus together hand in hand smiling for the day ahead.

Mommy and Daddy came up to the school a couple of hours later to help with lunch time. While the girls were happy to see them, they were having fun playing and chatting with friends.

By the time the day was over they got off the bus (30 minutes late) tired but very happy.

A better first day than we could have asked for.