School pictures

We finally got Vinny's school pictures back. I love them!!!

 They also did a picture of Vinny and Donovan together! Too cute!

A couple of Vinny funnies...

Just a few little funny things Vinny has said lately, that I don't want forget...


Vinny was upset because he wanted some "pumped up kicks..." We told him that they dont have them in his size. He said they do "cuz the song says that ALL the other kids have the pumped up kicks."

We were playing candyland and Vinny just smacked me on the cheek really hard. When I asked him why he did it, he said "I was high fiving your face" ouch!!!! Of course, Tony  thought is was hilarious!!!

Vinny asked me why he wasn't going to get to be a big brother. I told him that we were happy with how our family
was and didn't feel like we needed a baby right now. Plus I mentioned that I felt like I was too old to have anyother baby. He told me that he wasn't too old, and he would help me make one... Had to backtrack myself out of that one...

Vinny & Donovan

Donovan's family has seats near ours at the hockey game, so the boys like to sneak over and see each other during the game. Here are some cute shots I got at a recent game.

From my sweet boy...

Love you, too, Vin!

I know it is a little late....

Happy Halloween, from Vindiana Jones!

Slumber party

A couple of weeks ago, Vinny had his buddy from school, Donovan, stay the night. Those too have so much fun together! Well, most of the time, until they have to share, or play a game... lol... But they do enjoy eachothers company and had a lot of fun together. Vinny keeps asking when they get to have another slumber party. He can't wait!

A season of giving.

Through work, I was introduced to this amazing service organization called the Lions Club. I had always heard of it, but never really knew much about it. After going to a few of their meetings, I decided to join. They do wonderful things for our community and help out in so many ways. Throught the Lions Club, I learned a lot about the need to volunteers and donations to our local food banks. I knew that there was a need, but didn't really realize how much of one. I recently started to volunteer at the Lake Stevens Community Food Bank.

When I saw that Vinny's school had a food drive, I was excited to be able to talk to him about it and get together some donations. Now Vinny has always been very generous. He always wants to put money in the moneyjars he sees and is always excited to drop stuff off at Goodwill or do donate to different things. We have talked to him quite a bit about how some people aren't as fortunate as we are and he seems to really understand and have compassion for the situation. When I told him about the food bank and the donations he was all excited to go shopping. We went through our cupboards at home and got a bag full of items. We headed to Walmart and I gave him a $10 and told him to go ahead and pick out what he wanted to donate. He picked out all of his favorites. Rice, spaghetti, corn bread, ramen, applesauce, and fruit cups as well as some other smaller items. He was so proud. I was so proud. It was a great experience for both of us. Not only did he do something to help others, but he practiced his math skills, as well!

He wanted me to take a picture to show his dad all the stuff he bought!

New Hockey Lessons

Vinny has gotten pretty bored and frustrated with hockey lessons at Comcast, so we decided to look into other options. He really wants to play hockey, not ice skate, as he puts it. We have tried to explain to him that he has to learn to skate first, but it is just "too boring." After some asking around and some research, we found out about the sno-king beginners in Kirkland. We decided to go ahead and try out. Vinny LOVES it!!! He actually gets to take his stick out and hit around a puck. He feels like he is practicing hockey and it so excited to be going there. He still has about 3 more weeks at Everett, so for the time being, he is going to both (plus doing gymnastics,) but he seems to enjoy the Everett one more now too, because he knows that he gets to use his stick too... Here are some pics from his first session.

Bad cell phone pic... oops!

Go Tips!

TIme for our annual Silvertips/Lincoln picture!

Here is the link to see past pictures of him... http://lifeasvinnysmom.blogspot.com/2010/09/wow-how-hes-grown.html

Vinny's school projects

Here are several pictures of Vinny's projects that he has brought home from school lately. If you click on them, you can see them better. Vinny has proven that he really hates to color and isn't really into the whole art thing. He loves to draw race tracks and maps, but that is about it.

Pinterest

Lately I have kind of been addicted to a new website called Pinterest. (http://www.pinterest.com/) It is full of great ideas! I have tried several recipes, and some crafts and have a ton more that I can't wait to do. I thought I would share some of the things I have made so far...

The photo on the banner of my blog was from a picture that I saw on there ....

Rules to Follow picture: I still need to frame this.

 I love you this much card: Vinny made this for Tony for Father's Day.

I love you because picture: I love this. I write little messages to Tony and Vinny in dry erase marker and it wipes right off.

 Ruler Growth Chart: My favorite thing. I didn't really make it thugh. My father in law did. (Thanks Dan!!!!) It has Vinny's height from birth and I can't wait to keep it up as he grows.

 Puffy Paint: This was a puffy paint project that we did that was a lot of fun.

I can't wait to try tons of other ideas I have found on there!

Dad & Me Pumpkin Carving

Vinny's school does a special night where the students and their Dads get to go to school and carve pumpkins. It is a fun night for just the two of them and Vinny had so much fun!

52 week project - week 41

Friday night was Pink the Rink at the Everett Silvertips. It was an event to raise money for breast cancer research. The Silvertips ended up raising over $78,000 that night! Here is a pic of Vinny and I showing our support!

yes, I am behind...

I realize how far behind I am in blogging. To be honest, I have been working a lot of later nights, and just been so busy, that when I am home I don't have time to spend the time on the computer. It is just so much faster to post pictures on facebook, that I usually just do that, so if you every want to see pics, check there. :)
Vinny has been doing hockey lessons and loves it. He has had 3 so far and the coach says he is doing really well. I keep wondering when he will get bored with it, because what 4 year old sticks to something so much, but he is determined to be on a hockey team.
He also took up a new sport. Gymnastics. He went to a birthday party at Rising Star Gymnastics and loved it. So, he went back for his 1st class last Thursday and wants to keep going, so we are going to let him do that too. It's only once a week, for 45 minutes, so if nothing else, it wears him out.

I love you mom.

Yes, I realize it is sideways, but I took this on my phone... such a good job <3

Speech Update

Vinny went back to meet with Vivian Brade at Marshall to talk about his IEP and speech. He was so excited to go and see her again. In the morning before we left he was jumping up and down in the living room saying "I get to see Ms. Vivian!!!" When she re evaluated him, we decided to drop him down to visiting her once a month for 30 minutes. This won't do a whole lot, but she will be able to give us some homework type things, and just help us to keep on top of everything so that he doesn't relapse.
I am so proud of him for the accomplishments and improvement he has made so far.

Field trip to the pumpkin patch

Last week, Vinny's school went on a field trip to the pumpkin patch. Tony was able to take the time off of work to go with him. They both said that they had a great time. Vinny picked out this pumpkin.

52 week project - week 41