This is for you, Dad

A little of lately...

Swimming on Thanksgiving at Aunt Christine's house.

The Adventure of Dan

This week I was getting ready for a walk with Sarah and Daniel, Frank was working on the computer. Daniel would not hold his feet still long enough to get his shoes and socks on. So, I told him he couldn't come with us after all. As I was walking out the door, he yelled he had to go to pee pee's and ran to the bathroom. He yelled loud enough, I knew Frank heard him and then I left the house.
I was over a little hill a ways from the house. When I came over the hill towards the house, I could hear Dan on his bike. I thought, oh, Frank decided to take him outside to play, that's nice. Then I got closer, I could see Daniel, but not Frank. I thought, Frank must be behind the van. But the closer I got, I could see Dan wasn't wearing pants.....or shoes. He must have escaped the house without Frank knowing. Oh, well not harm done. BUT then I got closer and Dan stood up by the door in the carport and I could see Dan's whole outfit...a shirt and only a shirt.
That's right, no shoes, no pants and no underwear!! Naked from the waist down.

Frank's parents have lived in this nice neighborhood for seven years and we just had to move in to ruin their nice reputation in less then three months time.

Our Little Daniel

Daniel has a fresh and innocent way of looking at things.

A typocal conversation with Daniel:
Daniel: "Ow, mom, I have a owwie."
Me: Zoned out, I didn't even hear him.
Daniel: "Mom, kiss it better."
Me: "What Daniel?"
Daniel: "Kiss my bottom"
Me: "No, I am not going to kiss your bottom"
Daniel: "Why not? It's fun"


Meme came home with dark purple, almost black grapes last night.
Daniel: "mom, why did you paint the grapes?"



Dad(commenting on fall): "Look, Daniel, all the leaves are falling off the trees."
Daniel: " Yea, we have to fix that."

We have funny conversations all day long, I just can't remember them right now.

Halloween in Florida

So, what is it like to live in Florida at Halloween time?

Abby was wearing a costume the way it was meant to be worn. No tights, boots or coat to cover up the costume. She wore a costume that only had cap sleeves and open toe sandals. No coats in Florida this month. We couldn't get Daniel to keep his costume on long enough to get a picture of them together all dressed up.

We got the largest pumpkin at the pumpkin patch we could find.
It is a wonder to me that our four month old baby is in her 6-9 month clothes. We have never had that with our other kids.
Look at those thighs!!!

The backside of our little firetruck.

Our little blond firetruck driver.

Our Tinkerbell.

What has been happening in Florida for the Aiellos?

Sarah is getting bigger. Four months old now.

From the left: Abby, Daniel, Frank, cousin Macie, Aunt Beth, cousin Maren.

Up Front: Aunt Christine

All just hanging out at Meme's and Paca's.

Sarah is getting bigger, and Abby loves her so much.


Abby helping Paca make Italian sausage.


Daniel found perhaps the least comfortable position in a recliner.

Potty Training Activities

Of Underwear and Tricycles

Miracles are happening.

You might think that I am writing about our new life in Florida, like Frank found a wonderful new job, or that our house is sold, but not right now. Instead, I wanted to shout to the world that my three month old, Sarah, slept for two and half hours straight for her morning nap. I didn't even have to put the binky back in her mouth after 45 minutes or so. This is the longest uninterupted nap she has ever had. And not only that, she did it two days in a row. Today was the second day. I just can't believe it. She is a smiley little girl and likes to chat too. We love her so much. Oh, and her grandparents here is Florida just can't get enough of her. Which is good, because we live with them.

Oh, and I don't want to speak too soon, but our house is under contract. The closing day is about mid November. YEAH!!!! It is a young family with a four year old girl and a set of three year old twin boys. A little story about meeting them: My dad is a home inspector, and a mighty fine one at that, and he met them at our house to go over his report. He said to my mom after they left the house, "those parents have their hands full with one of those twin boys." Funny enough, his name is Daniel. LOL. I had to share that. My mom talked to the mother for a while and said they are nice people. I prayed that the right family would find that house. One that wasn't afraid of hard work to give it some more love.

The Lord is truely teaching us patience and gratitude through this. But I fear I have a little more to learn still. I really am gratefull that He has a plan for us and that he is watching out for us. I don't know what I would do without the gospel to have hope through this trial right now, and great family too. We couldn't have made it this far without either of our parents. They have done more than we can begin to keep track of. We could not have better parents to see us through. I thank Heavenly Father for our many many blessing everyday. He is truely holding us up. I loved conference this last weekend too. I found some more strength and guidance that I really needed there. I felt like some of them wrote their talks just for us. I guess that is how the spirit works and guides us.

A little of September

Sarah is sitting up enough in her "Bumbo" now.

That is quite the look too.

Daniel fell alseep drawing with markers.


Daniel playing with Sarah.

Daniel giving Sarah loving kisses.

I will make sure to get Abby soon.

How to cut a pineapple.

My sister-in-law, Christine, says she doesn't buy fresh pineapple because she doesn't know how to cut them. This is my tutorial for doing just that.

This is for you, Christine.

Cut the top and bottom off the pineapple.

Then cut the edges off in strips.

like this.

Then chop off the sides and cube it up.

It tastes so good when it is fresh. It is worth the cutting. I just recommend using a cookie sheet to catch the juice.

Yum. I want to go out and buy another one right now.

We have arrived in Florida

We drove up to Frank's parent's house on Friday at 12:30 am, FL time. We stopped by my sister, Amy's, place in Austin TX to visit her and her family. We have been hanging out with Frank's family, including his two sisters and nieces that came up for the long weekend to see us. Frank is into full swing mode of looking for a job and such. Abby made some new friends at church on Sunday and was very happy about that. I have to homeschool her for now, because I can't get her into school until all of her shoots are up to date. I didn't have them completed in Utah for personal reasons, but they don't allow that kind of waver in Florida. It will work out in the end, I am sure. The Lord's hand has been in this and will continue to be in it.
I am grateful for my little family and I am glad we are all together, even if it is hot and humid outside where we now live. We are grateful for all your prayers and many wonderful acts of service you have provided for us. We have felt the Lord's hand pick us up and carry us along because of the many wonderful people in our lives and the spirit of peace he has given us. I would like to ask for more prayers on Frank's behalf as he now looks for a job and starts school after the new year. Thank you. We love you all.

The house is packed up

Frank got the truck packed up Wednesday evening, except all the things we take on our trip across the country with us. I stayed at my parent's with the kids while Frank finished up. It is now Thursday morning and I am going to join him to clean the house while he makes the last repairs on the house. I can't wait for this to be DONE! A week from now, we should be on our last leg of the trip and getting close to Florida. Yeah!

Smiles

Sarah has been smiling for a quite a while now, so I wanted it on camera. This was the best I could do.

A very busy week

What would you do with a bottle of strawberry syrup?

Daniel wastes no time.

He puts it straight into the carton of milk while I feed Sarah.

Abby's cousins tought her to climb on the van, so she had to teach Daniel. Each feat was accomplished while our backs were turned, and then a lecture followed.


This is our newly completed kitchen.

The back splash was done with beadboard wall paper from Lowes and then painted and fiished off with trim.

Florida, here we come

As many of you know, we are moving to Florida at the end of the month. This was a quick decision, but one that we are feeling good about. Frank lost his job on Wednesday. We could guess that it was coming for a few days, so we talked and prayed a lot. When it happened, we knew what we had to do.

We are moving into his parent's house, in Lake City, for a few months to save up some extra money, then we will find our own house. We have found we can also get more for our money there right now. Frank is going to finish school in supply chain management at the college there in the town. At first is was out of neccessity, but now it feels like it is all part of the plan or big picture.

We will really miss many parts of Utah. More than anything, we will miss my family and all the many gatherings. We will miss the people in our ward like crazy. Abby is really going to miss her friends, and is worried about making new ones. I am sure she will make news one quickly. I am worried that Daniel is going to be too loud for the grandparents. I think my parents have always been a little releaved when we leave their house after a long visit (more than an hour).

Frank has been getting the house ready to sell. That is taking all of his time. It needs a lot of work. I have been trying to pack with a one month old baby in my arms, that is the only place she will sleep and stay calm. She cries in everyone else's arms when she gets tired or behind on sleep, so I get few brakes from her. Today was a little better. I hope to see improvements so I can finish packing. My mom has been helping the last two days. Our plan is to be done packing by Tuesday Aug. 24th and load the truck Friday/Saturday 27, 28. That leaves us with a few days to finish repairs and clean so the house is in great shape for selling. We will role out of our parent's house Monday 30th.

I know the Lord is guiding us in all of this, so it will be all good.

I wish I wasn't here today

Today, is one of those days that I wish that I had some where else to be, other than home with my kids. Sarah (the one month old) will not sleep or stay asleep anywhere other than my arms for a full nap. My back is not feeling very good after two days of this. While I am down stairs holding sleeping Sarah and helping Abby clean her room for a new bed she is getting, Daniel is upstairs all by himself. I know what you are thinking, "are you mad?" Yes, I am mad and desperate. I just want to get something productive done, so Daniel was flying solo upstairs.

I come up to find the water at the kitchen sink running on high pressure. The fridge door is wide open with the bar stool in the middle of the opened door. The peanut butter is on the counter with a knife that has strawberry jam on it, which is now in the peanut butter. The jam jar is completely empty, thanks to Daniel, of course.

Later on, I am at the computer while Abby and Daniel are playing downstairs and having fun. Who knows what mess will be left by that unattended event? I hear someone in the kitchen. I go to investigate, who is it? Daniel is standing at the counter, on the other side of the stove, on the stool, naked, except the diaper (this is normal attire lately) with a number ten can of my well loved homemade granola. There is a granola spill on the stove, the counter and inside the electric burners. I look at him with a patient smile, he takes his hands, picks up the granola and says, "see mom, I am picking up", with a pleasing smile. The first handful makes it into the can, but the second one ends up at his mouth, until I explain that isn't helping. So, then he just picks out a cranraisins and eats it.

This day is full of moments of, "I can't keep up" and so was yesterday, among many other days. How can anyone even think about a normal house when mom is holding a baby all day? One might ask, "why don't you just put her down more often to get things done". Well, if you really want to know, just read on. This little one needs a lot of sleep. If she doesn't get it, she doesn't sleep well at night or for her next nap even. The further she gets behind on sleep, the harder it is to handle her and get her to sleep again. It is an on going game with her. When will this phase end? I thought I saw light at the end of the tunnel when she took a one hour nap and a 1 1/2 hour nap in her crib two days ago. It was a miracle that I knew might not happen again. But I was hoping I was on the right track with her sleep, but I just can't find the solution.

I have typed this post while she is asleep in my lap on a pillow and nursing in my lap, also on a pillow. I hope to have happier things to right about later.

Water logged

I just spilled 2 gallons of water on our kitchen floor. And if you think that is an easy clean up, well, you have never tried it (little alone with a crying baby in the back ground).

AAHHHHHHAA!!!!

Getting exercise.

Who needs to go to the play ground when they have a human jungle gym?

Sarah, just hanging out.

This was about two weeks ago.
This is for you, Aunt Beth

Abby was holding Sarah while I took a shower, and when I came out, both of them were asleep.

Shake what your mama gave you.

Daniel with cousins Jackson and Lily

Cousins Joni and Ava

What a dance party they had.

Summer is here..

One of Frank's favorite things about summer is he gets to grill all summer long.

And this is the result of his love of grilling.

Just a little more of Sarah....Well, for now.

I know we already posted pictures, but none of them really show a good shot of her. Maybe a bunch of them will give you a better sense of her look.

Here are videos to see if we can show what she really looks like.

Sarah is loved much in this house.

What we did while we waited for Sarah to come.

We were waiting to go into the hospital on Saturday, so we did some things to pass the time. Abby and I painted some wood projects. Daniel felt left out, so Frank found some wood of his own to paint.

We went to Mill Creek Canyon for hiking, hoping it would jump start me so the hospital couldn't tell us not to come in anymore.

Final shot of the belly.

Abby enjoying the water fall.

Daniel enjoying his snack.

I guess Frank was behind the camera, because we didn't get him in any shots.

Sarah May Aiello

On Sunday, June 20th at 6:49 am, Sarah May Aiello joined the Utah Aiello's'. She weighed in at 7lbs 12oz. She is quiet, which puts her immediately at odds with, well, the rest of us.Sarah and her proud daddy, the handsomest man in America.

Abby is very excited because now she is a "double big sister".

Daniel told me (well shouted) that he is a,"Big brother boy!"

Welcome to the family, Sarah, and consider yourself warned.