A Herdoiza Update

It has been awhile... once again.... We have had a lot happening lately, not to mention 2 sick kids. Gabby had a double ear infection, cough, and a yucky cold while Amanda had a stomach bug. As Nick got ready for school today he was coughing... oh brother! It wouldn't be a week in the Herdoiza household if someone wasn't throwing up, coughing, or sniffling! When will it finally end!!!

Here is the latest update.... I can no longer take pictures of Gabriella. She is constantly on the move. She doesn't sit still for a SECOND. That makes nearly everything in my life difficult. She is crawling everywhere and emptying cupboards, toys, climbing the stairs, hitting her head on the table, sleeping in Tug's bed, ripping apart kleenex... you name it... she destroys it.... or hurls it... or bangs it on the furniture. Making dinner has become an impossible task, as is cleaning dishes, doing homework with Nick and Amanda, and even doing laundry. I try to do as much as possible during her one nap in the morning. Ugh! Here is the little trouble maker... however, you wouldn't know it by the picture.

Me... trying to get myself in a picture with Gabby. Not the most flattering angle....

Gabby racing toward the camera on target to grab the lens....

Do you see what I mean? I was trying to clean the bathroom... I have to empty all the cupboards so she doesn't get in trouble... then she sits herself in the cabinet and gets stuck... then I move her out and put her in her crib... then she cries... 15 minutes passes and the sinks are still dirty!!

Never a dull moment around our house... You never know how smoothly the mornings will run. I try to get things organized the night before so everything is less hectic. But......... sometimes Spiderman shows up at the breakfast table ready to leave for school. I don't think that is what I picked out for Nicholas to wear to school. After breakfast and some coaxing, he did change into appropriate school clothes. He did make me laugh and I was happy enough to take a picture. What a silly guy!

That brings us to Amanda's First Communion. I had been doing a LOT of running around for catechism and the party. I finally found a dress and shoes. Do you recognize the tiara? Instead of a veil, I opted to let her wear my tiara from my wedding day. It actually got used again. I didn't like the idea of the veil. She would look too much like a little bride. She was beautiful on her First Communion Day!

Amanda was the first one to receive communion in her class. She was excited that there were no germs in the wine.... only hers! Always thinking like her Mom!

Unfortunately, I did not take many pictures during the First Communion party/ First Birthday party. I don't know what happened. I'm a little disappointed in myself!

Justin brought Crystal to the party to meet the family. She seems like a very sweet girl although she may be rethinking things........ Little does she know Justin is just as strange as the rest of us!

And.... here is the Birthday girl with Grammie... Doesn't Mom look great in this picture? It must be the fact that she is retiring in 7 weeks. She looks radiant and happy!

I wanted to capture Brad and Laura before all the attention is focused on Baby Gerwatowski. Only 20 more days.... Then it will be survival of the fittest ..... and that little baby is going to be the fittest.....take notes from my blog.

Our typical pose....

The cake.... I tried a new frosting recipe that Martha Stewart says is "THE BEST." It was terrible. I will stick to my old buttercream recipe. This Swiss meringue was impossible to pipe for a children's cake. Not my best cake..... and I must say Martha Stewart's advice was far from "the best."

She didn't go crazy with the cake... like on her real birthday.... The frosting didn't allow for fingerprints....

This is for Crystal..... ENJOY the photograph.... save it on your computer.... use it as your own blackmail....

Opening presents....

More cards.... and beautiful gifts....

I didn't take pictures of nearly anyone at the party. I didn't even photograph my own son. At 8:00 I made Nick and Amanda pose on the couch so I would know he was there at the party. What a terrible mother! (Take note Brad and Laura!) They are such cute Kids!

And I think that brings you up to date. On the upcoming agenda... I will be at Nicholas' school next week to do a hand print project for teacher appreciation week. Kindergartner's and paint.... it could be a messy disaster. I also signed up to bring a dessert (of course) for teacher appreciation week at Amanda's school. We have 2 soccer games this weekend (of course it is going to rain) and I'm hosting poker. When Gabby gets up from her nap it will be to the grocery store and Costco. I'm so excited Amanda's talent show will be here next week. We have 2 dress rehearsals and the show. Then we can cross one more thing off of our list. In the meantime, I'm continuing to read at night. I'm in the middle of 2 books which are pretty good. In the back of my head I've been playing with some new career ideas... I'll share them with you soon.

Until later....

Happy First Birthday!

Just a quick post.... I have been up since about 4:27 when Gabby started crying. I changed her diaper and got her back to sleep and I have been up ever since. In the meantime, I got a lot of paper work finished in the office. I love the feeling of a clean desk.

Anyway... The week has been pretty much a blur. We have had talent show practice several times, soccer, tennis, catechism, everyone back to school, a pizza party, a healing mouth (after Amanda knocked her permanent teeth loose on her rollerblades) and most importantly a big BIRTHDAY yesterday.

I can't believe it has been a year. My battery died on the camera so I couldn't take many photos. I will have to be more prepared during her birthday party next weekend.

Gabriella was so tiny. It is amazing how much she has changed in the past year.

Who is more excited about the cake... Amanda or Gabby?

A little help from Nick and Amanda to blow out the candle.... Amanda was very good at restraining Gabby so she wouldn't touch the fire....... But finally she got the cake!
Picture perfect! A girl after my heart and her Aunt Mo Mo's... she loves the icing too!

Ooeey, gooey.....

Happy Birthday Gabriella!

I'm off to get ready for work and make lunches for school. Until later.............

Easter and More...

The last two weeks have been fairly busy. Nicholas was off of school for spring break last week and Amanda is off this week. We have had lots of playdates, sleepovers, and lets not forget sickness STILL. (Gabby (again) and Steve this week.) We have been loving the beautiful weather and playing outside a lot. Spring is such a great time of the year! Here are a few shots over the last week or so....


I found this super cute headband for Gabriella while shopping for Easter clothes and a communion dress at Von Maur. It is so ADORABLE! Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to care for haute-couture baby fashion. I couldn't even keep it on for a few minutes and a couple of pictures. She immediately tore it off her head.

Here is Nicholas keeping himself busy during Spring Break. Gabby was napping and Nick was setting up his race. I wonder which car was in the lead?

And that brings us to Easter....... Dying and painting eggs of course!

The budding artist at work....

A little bit of paint...

A sprinkle of glitter and Voila!

We also did some traditional dying. I thought the paint was going to be a disaster... but the eggs came out great and the kids had more fun painting than dipping.

And.... what would egg dying be like without some crying..... a little bit of drama provided by Nicholas

Back to being friends again.....

So the night before Easter Amanda left a note for the Easter Bunny...

It doesn't look like the baskets were hidden to hard this year... The kids found them in no time under the bathroom sink along with new rollerblades.

Let the Easter egg hunt begin....

Gabby found one in her favorite spot... the pantry...at least this time she didn't empty all the diet cokes...a favorite past time of hers

Look at all the eggs.... I think there were 74 this year.

Gabby soon gave up the hunt and settled for some breakfast.

I tried to get a photo with all 3 kids for Easter 2010. I managed to get 3 kids... but no one cared to look at the camera. Oh well...

Well... Amanda and Nick finally cooperated. Gabby is no where to be found.

Then it was off to Grammie and Grampie Gerwatowski's for more egg hunting.

In all the chaos and excitement I didn't take many photos at Mom and Dad's. Here are the 2 cute cousins.

Grammie and Gabby before the headband got ripped off again.

Such a handsome guy..... And I specifically told Steve before we left that I wanted to get a picture of our family all dressed up. As you can see.... that photo never made it on the camera. Bummer. I'll have to do some impromptu shots.

And speaking of impromptu shots.... At the last minute Steve needed some tennis photos for his website with all the information about his summer academy. Monday night after dinner, while the kids played on the court next to us, and Gabby sat in the stroller trying to avoid getting pegged with balls, I took these shots of Steve.

Does he look intense? That was the look he was going for.... Not happy.... not smiling.

Does Steve look like he's serving for match point? In actuality, he's watching bickering kids on the court next to him.

And the last shot of the night.... and one of my favorites... even though he hates it.

So that's it for now. This has been a great week because Steve has been done early every night. We have been able to grill and eat dinner together and hangout. I've been doing a little reading. I'm having a hard time getting through that last vampire book. It is on my dresser, I've only read 150 pages. I have the new Harlan Coben book which should be good. His books are usually fast to read. I'm also finishing A Reliable Wife, and the verdict is still out. I keep reading it, but it is a little odd.

Well, I'm off to give Gabby more Motrin. I think her fever is back. Until later.....