Celebrating the feast of Saint Dominic

We celebrated Dominic's patron saint by making a white cake with a rosary on it. The kids had lots of fun making the rosary and eating it too.

Dominic and Papa Dave

Dominic loves being carried around by his Papa--they have a strong bond, that was formed by their mutual love for tractors and grilling

and you said it wouldn't fit!

Dominic proves that his mouth CAN fit the whole hamburger cookie in his mouth however ...the chewing process was somewhat of a long and messy one.

Scaling the giant pear

The kids having fun playing on giant rubber fruit at a shopping mall. Dominic was a champ at climbing and loved every minute.

Does it get any cuter?

A true capture of their angelic behavior that I get to enjoy every day

What a great way to cool off

Getting all wet at the Crown Center spray fountain

Prairie Home Companions

We are headed west to find gold

Our little nature explorers

Dominic I think we might have made a wrong turn

the cliffs of insanity

Look at them scaling the cliff so easily, Isabella was so proud of her accomplishment

Cave Springs Nature Reserve

We stopped from hiking for a family photo...as you can see Isabella is worn out!

Hop on my harley......let's Ride!

Isabella & Trista leading the pack at the motorway, Dominic loves the wind in his hair

World of Wonder

Isabella dressed in traditional Hmong garb getting ready to go to the rice field

Me I will do a dance for you! Prepare yourself for the style of Le-DomeeNeek

Please come down the slide too mama....

.....as you wish

Watch out crazy driver

Dominic speeds away to avoid being caught by Isabella & Trista

Don't worry mom I'll get him

just stick with me little brother and I will take care of you. It would be easy to get lost in the zoo so hold onto my hand real tight.

Hip Hip Hippo-rah

Riding a hippo isn't as easy as it looks

The grill-master

Dominic is fascinated with grills. Any time he sees one he is quick to tell us (in sign language) that it is "hot" ....so now he has his very own. He loves it so much that sometimes he has to hold it while he is in his car seat, because the grill had to go with us!! boys and fire....

Isabella and Coco on the 4th

Isabella holding Coco, (the dog Chad got for his girlfriend Oksana) at Oksana's 30th birthday party

Stars and Stripes on the 4th

Doesn't he look patriotic?

and if I wave my hands snakes will grow

Dominic's next trick will include fire and smoke do not attempt to try this at home

Isabella makes a splash on her 4th birthday

Isabella and her "ariel beach cake" on her 4th birthday

Look Dominic your favorite..a TURTLE

Dominic getting a close look at one of his favorite animals. He was quite content following the turtle around wherever it went.

Happy Mother's Day Mamma

The kids and Michael took me to a park for a picnic in honor of Mother's day

I've got my eye on you Dominic

Isabella holding new baby Anna Catherine (Anita & Adams 4th baby) while she keeps her eye on her little brother. She is quite the little momma already.

Easter 2007

The kids bearing the cold Easter morning for a few spring photos.

Lilly Chrysanthumum Christina

This morning I found out that Isabella is going to be a mommy. Yes, she informed me that she was "pregnant with a little girl." She had a very hard time eating her lunch with a baby pushing on her tummy but she managed. She also had to have help getting into her "hospital bed" when it was time for her rest today. She has also told me that she is "happy to eat healthy food so that her baby can be healthy" (upon hearing this I piled on the green beans!) Other than that, she has complained very little about the discomfort of pregnancy. At lunch she was not sure what she was going to name her unborn child but "was still thinking." She said that her expected delivery date was "Monday" and then told me that "you can be my doctor." (although I am not sure if a dietitian should be delivering a baby? I mean I am an RD not and MD.)
At 1:04pm today I am proud to announce the early delivery of the newest member of our family: Lilly Chrysanthumum Christina.
Mother and baby are doing fine. The labor took about 23 seconds and Isabella ended up having some medication for the pain (pink M & M's). She may try to go 'natural' next time if the meds weren't so yummy. I was proud to deliver the baby and get to cut the cord. The labor/delivery did take a toll on Isabella's appearance. The 23 seconds of pushing really messed up her hair and caused her to look like every other mother after giving birth--frazzled yet beautiful.
Little Lilly has blue eyes and brown pig-tails just like her mommy. It has been a very busy couple of days at our house. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.