Mommy Goes to Preschool!

Today, Mommy came to my school and did a presentation on my ancestors from Italy. She talked a bit about our trip to Italy (I liked to yell out every 3 seconds that it was MY Italy) a year ago, taught us how to say some words in Italiano and made some yummy fried mozzarella sticks for my class. Sure, the guy before her showed up in full African garb and showed a video (!), but Mommy held her own. ;) Here are some shots from her big presentation. Ciao! Stella xoxo

My Daddy's Back

Hip hip hooray! Here are some shots from the day we had with our papa... I love my Cinderella gown regardless of the fact that it's 3 inches too long! Sis and I got some much needed snuggle time with Big Poppa and a stroll through the hood. Only one tantrum that day, not bad, not bad at all...

xoxo Stell & Vio

Dance Like You've Never Danced Before

Well, Mr. Don at Deane Dance Studio is still a hit. I love him and love to prance around in my pink ballet slippers while Mr. Don demonstrates a Will & Grace-worthy version of "jazz hands." Amazing.

Ballet, School & a Little Poop...

While Daddy is jet setting around the world, Mommy, Sis and I continue our day to day acitivities...

Mommy takes Violet and I to ballet class and then a playdate. I have school and Violet goes with Mommy to the market. The usual... Oh, one can't forget to mention the highlight of this week sans daddy... for two days in a row, while I'm pretty much accident-free on the potty training, I've managed to create quite the poop extravaganza in my bedroom. Here's how it goes: I manage to hold my poop until naptime and the coast is clear and then let it all out with such rigor that it spills out the side of my pull-up (Mommy puts me in pull-ups at naptime and bedtime so as to avoid messes like these). I, trying to be the helpful alpha female/first child that I am, attempt to clean up the mess by yanking the velcro sides off of my pull-up and thrusting the entire mess onto my white duvet cover. I then take the heap of smelly goodness and play with it like it's my very own feces-infested play dough. Once I am done playing with it and wiping it all over my body, face and bedroom, I call for Mommy so that she too might relish in it's beauty and stench. Yes, folks, this is my idea of fun these days. Mommy has taken to extreme measures as of late to ensure I poo poo in the potty before naptime. Sure, it might take an hour of sitting on the potty till the kids drop off at school, but Mommy doesn't give a....

Thank God for Clorox, Mommy says...
Hope you're having fun in London, Daddy. ;)

xoxo Stell

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

What a wedding weekend extravaganza! Violet and I accompanied Mom & Dad, Grammy & Grampy and our uncles and aunts to SF for our second cousin's wedding. The lovely bride, Joanna, and her beau, Lucien, were stunning and hosted quite the shindig-- or so our parents tell us. We were left behind with a sitter.

The night before, however, we dined at Trattoria Contadina in North Beach and then hit the Farmer's Market and Aquarium the next morning. All in all, a fabulous trip. Enjoy the pics! xoxo Stell & Vio

Marriage Brings Beautiful Things

M&D celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary a week early in wonderful San Francisco. Never in their wildest dreams would they have imagined life to have taken them to such a "playground." Literally. 4 years, 2 kids and so much fun.

Sometimes, however, that fun gets a bit exhausting, leaving M&D longing for "alone time." Grammy & Grampy answered the call and watched V & I while our rents played in peace. They missed us, though, and were happy to return (1 day later) with some fun loot for both of us. It's funny, they always seem so anxious to go and be alone, but then they can't wait to come back. The usual shenanigans ensue as they step foot in the Kinney casa-- food throwing during meals, high pitched temper tantrums (followed by slobber kisses) and energy to beat the band, but M&D smile through it all. Happy Anniversary!!

"I thought I lost you, Mommy..."

This is what I say every time Mommy picks me up from preschool. I know that in reality, I haven't lost her, but I also know that every time I say these words, Mommy starts to cry. Mommy would never abandon me, of course, but I like to give her my sweetest voice and poutiest pout while hugging her and whispering, "I thought I lost you, Mommy. I found you, Mommy. I love you, Mommy." It gets her every single time :)

-Stella