Racing in the laundry basket?

Rosie was entertaining Josephine while I gathered the Saturday gear for our soccer games. Jo was laughing so hard & having the best time. She loves her big sisters, and she gives them kisses & hugs every morning. It is very cute, and I hope they continue to be this loving all the time (wishful thinking, I know!)

Fun Saturday Adventures

We had a fun & busy Saturday. We started with Anna's soccer game (see video below & sorry that you have to hear me yelling for Anna). I'm one of those moms that can't believe how involved she becomes at every soccer game. It's just so darn fun! Then, we hopped into the car to watch the Brentwood Days' Parade. Rosie was walking in it with her Girl Scout troop. Then we had to hightail it to her 1:30 soccer game. They did not have much warm-up time before the game, but they played very well. We were well-matched with this team, and we ended up winning 5-2. Rosie scored a goal!!! It was a great shot too. I did not get any pics because Jo was beyond tired by then, so I just walked her up & down the field. She would not go to anyone - just wanted her mommy. That's OK - I was just happy to be able to watch the game.

Jo & I came home to get her down for a much-needed nap, and the kids & Pete went to the Brentwood Days' carnival, etc. They came home by 7pm (tuckered out!), and then it was time for dinner & bed. Anna won a goldfish, so Pete purchased a small tank for it. Unfortunately, the fish did not make it through the night. Time to buy another one. We were all sad in the morning when he was not swimming around anymore. Our first animal & it died so soon!

Anna playing 4 on 4 soccer on Saturday - she's a speedy little thing!

Sitting on the side of the road waiting for the parade to start. My good friend, Tera (Anna's soccer coach) with her daughter, Caroline, & Hailey (Kathy's daughter - the other soccer coach) plus Pete & Jo!

Rosie walking in the parade - they all had USA bandanas on their head. They had a lot of fun!

Paint Me Pottery Party

As many of you know, your kid's birthday usually lasts for a week. We ended the week with her friend party at Paint Me Pottery. Pete & Anna just finished delivering the pottery to her friends tonight, so I thought it was appropriate for me to show off some pics. It was a very low key party - probably because they were all so intent on their masterpieces. Pete & I weren't even tired after the party!

Kids say the funniest things

Listening to your kids talk with their friends is probably one of the things I never realized would be so interesting. While Rosie was at Gabby & Megan's 9th birthday party, Kathy Alexander & I split up the younger siblings. I took Caroline, Hailey, Michael & Anna to our house for an hour, and I just loved their conversation during the car ride. They each had to tell a scary story, and they were so creative! Caroline was the funniest as she is really into scary stuff. She really did well setting the scene, and the others were really quiet while she talked. It was just fun listening and realizing how much Anna is growing up. I see my daughters every day but when you see them with all their friends, and suddenly you notice how much older they look. They are all growing into such beautiful young girls.

Soccer season begins

Wow - I can't believe it's been 4 days since I last blogged. I can't seem to catch up since school is back plus these financial markets are keeping me hopping at work. Why can't there be more hours in the day? Someday, I will wish for these busy times back when I am sitting in my rocker holding my grandbabies.

Soccer season began on Saturday. We thought we were going to have rain all weekend, but Hurrican Ike hit us on Sunday morning only. We got in both soccer games on Saturday. Anna's team was awesome & won probably 10-2 (I say probably because it is 4 on 4 soccer and we are not supposed to keep score). Whatever - everyone knows who won! Believe me, last year we got crushed because we had a preK team playing all Kindergarten teams. Anna scored at least 3 times too!! She was so excited & ready for her next game.

I made the last 10 minutes of Rosie's game after Anna finished her game. They lost 0-2, but they always start off a little rough in the beginning of the season. They will get better, I just know it! Go Chargers!

Waiting for the whistle to start the game!

And she's off - as you can see - it is not too structured but it is a "learning" season.

Hailey & Anna - the 2 top goal scorers! Actually, the whole team did really well! I'm just biased!

September 11th - A Celebration of Life with Anna

Happy Birthday to my 2nd daughter, Anna Isabella Carollo. Born at 3am on September 11th, 2002. It was exactly one year after the attacks of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon & the plane that went down in a field in Pennsylvania. We remember the many people who lost their lives today, but Pete & I also remember a new life that came into our lives.

Anna is the middle child, similar to me, so I can always relate to her trying to get attention & finding her way in our family. She is an aggressive, competitive, smart, caring, beautiful, happy, and loving girl. She still sucks her thumb & can't go to sleep without her Pooh bear. She sings every Hannah Montana song, but Camp Rock is her favorite right now. Anna really cares about her appearance which started at an early age & has always shocked us. She could put her hair in a pony tail at 3 years old & can already braid her hair. She tied her shoes at age 3 also - she just decides on learning something & masters it without any help or questions from us. She does get frustrated easily though! She worships her big sister, Rosie & is so patient and loving with her baby sister, Jo. Seeing her with Jo melts my heart. They love her so much. Anna loves attention at home, but she doesn't like a crowd watching her. She becomes very shy & clings to me.

What a sportswoman she is becoming! If I could pitch to her every night, she would hit balls all night long. She tries so hard & listens really well to her coaches. Anna loves soccer also, and she can't wait to go back to tumbling in a few more weeks. For some reason, she is ready to start volleyball - that sport doesn't start until 3rd grade!

She is shocking us with her math skills right now. Almost every night, we do math flashcards & she is doing pretty difficult addition! She is anxious to move to subtraction. Her reading is coming along as well, but now she just wants to do math! She loves art as much as Rosie and every day, drops her book bag & goes directly to the desk to start coloring. She could color for hours (which we don't mind at all.)

You can always spot Anna with her big grin! She is a beautiful girl who adds so much vitality to our days. God bless her always. We love you Anna.

Sisters playing together

Last night, Anna played with Jo for so long while I cleaned up dinner. It makes me so happy to hear them play together. It was one of those evenings where everything is calm & just plain nice.