Inauguration Day 2009

To my children on Inauguration Day,

Today President Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of this country. I sat in the lunchroom at work today watching the inauguration with my co-workers as it happened. People cried and cheered. I've never seen an inauguration day like today. Typically it just passes by without a notice. I freely admit that I have been anxiously awaiting this day. To me Obama represents a very new type of leadership for this country. He has truly been chosen as the agent of Hope rather than falling into the same trend of fear that is so often used in politics. He is educated, eloquent and focused on what must be done. I am very optomistic for what America will be under his leadership.

Additionally, this election is historic because we have for the first time sworn in an African American as our president. I think it is wonderful that you will never have known a time when there had never been a black president. I predict that by the time the two of you are adults there will have been a female president as well. It is a wonderful thing that the "melting pot" will not just be something that you are taught about in school as I was but that you will see as a given in life.

I love you both!

Love,
Mom

"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.
"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics."

"This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath. "

"In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."

"Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America."

Hal Donahue: "Complete strangers of all classes and shades hugged and talked and cried. On Tuesday, the immigrant cab driver taking us away from the mall to a hotel was literally crying with equal measures of joy and astonishment. This was massive change and everyone knew it. The road ahead will be long and uphill but for this one day; we celebrated the victory of our time.
Make no mistake. Tuesday was a revolution. We, the people, came together to make it very clear that this is a revolution."

Dominic Updates

Dominic is getting so mature! He is all little boy. He has a fantastic imagination and is constantly playing pretend although sometimes he gets shy if he's really into the story and someone starts watching. He still loves the dojo and he is now officially in class for pre-schoolers. It's pretty entertaining and you can tell when the half hour is getting close to being done because the focus gets pretty lost with the kids. Dominic loves it though!

The new obsession in our house is "Mamma Mia" the movie. I love the movie and I was surprised when Dominic asked to watch it. I put it on and lately we've watched it multiple times a day! Dominic knows the words to the songs and sings along. His favorite song is "Honey Honey" but he also corrected Gee to the proper words of "Mamma Mia." I've tried to tape him singing it but he gets shy whenever he sees the camera so instead I stealthily filmed him dancing. LOL!

Christmas Take 2

After we finished at our house we all got dressed and headed over to Gee & Papa's house to celebrate Christmas some more! Dominic had a great time opening the presents for himself and Samantha and when we pointed out that some of the presents were for Celeste and Brooke he was very good about leaving them alone. I wasn't sure he'd have the restraint! He loved all of his new toys there as well!

Christmas Continued

Dominic was so into all of his toys! It's so great when they love everything they open!

Christmas

Dominic is one smart kid! I can see that Christmas in the future will be a tricky endeavour! Already he is pointing out the people "pretending" to be Santa. He won't go anywhere near them! Thankfully we found the real Santa downtown and he very happily went to him and took a picture. He even told him the gift he has been asking for since Halloween, a baby lion cub. (The coolest thing ever, check it out http://www.wowwee.com/en/products/toys/plush/alive/cubs:lion-cub)

He had a great time decorating the tree and was very good with the ornaments. Daddy and I have a penchant for blown glass ornaments and I was a little worried but the kids did great putting them on the tree. We only had one casualty which mommy really should have moved to a higher branch!

Dominic was very excited about Christmas morning and was so excited to open all of his presents. He opened Samantha's as well! He was thrilled to get the baby lion and was excited to see the presents at Gee & Papa's house. Now we're having a great week (mommy took vacation) playing with the new toys and hanging out.

The Polar Express

This year, we decided with Gee & Papa to skip the presents to each other and instead go to the Polar Express in NH. We had a wonderful weekend with snow, sleigh rides and a great trip to the North Pole. The kids were mesmerized by Santa and enjoyed the carols. Dominic is still dissapointed that the man didn't punch his ticket like in the movie but had a wonderful time!

Cooking with Daddy!

Dominic loves cooking and is really able to help out now!

Goofy Pics!

Soome goofy pics of my handsome boy!

YES WE CAN!!

God Bless President Obama! This is the beginning of something special!


America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves - if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we cant, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America

Trick-or-Treat!

We had another wonderful night for trick or treating! Dominic did a great job in his dragon costume although he was a little quieter this year with the "trick or treats." One house really spooked him out (the girl kind of spooked me out too standing very still with a creepy mask on!) but otherwise he kept saying "let's go get more"! We did a good 15 houses or so before Dominic said it was time to go back which was perfect timing since we all needed dinner and it was starting to get cold. We even got a goody bag from the police and a glow stick from the fire departmeent.

First Snow

We had the first snow of the year which I love seeing around Dominic's birthday. It snowed the day we took him home from the hospital and I love having that first snow around the same time. It makes me nostalgic!

A few day before we had VT Gas come to switch us over to natural gas. (It's been a long process, we signed the contract the 1st of June, but who can afford oil?) Anyways, when they were here Dominic saw our Christmas Pooh Bear and asked to take it out. I said no, we have to have Halloween first and then when it gets colder and snows around Christmas time we can take it out. So it started snowing and I showed Dominic and he said "Wow, snow! We can take out Pooh Bear now!" He remembers everything!!!

Daddy's Pumpkin

(sigh) This was daddy's idea. Dominic thought it was pretty gross that the pumpkin was "sick." Don't worry though, we did have some more traditional pumpkins as well.

Party Time

On the 25th we had a Harry Potter themed birthday party for Dominic which went great! We had lots of people, all the kids played so nice together. They had a great time playing in the leaves and decorating pumpkins. It was so nice to see Cole, Charlotte and Aidyn (and of course their parents too!) who we don't get to see much of.

I am so proud of this poster! I did it in photoshop and it came out great. We had them hanging up around the house for the party.
My attempt at a golden snitch!

Decorating pumpkins!


Playing in the leaves!


Presents!!! (Which the kids did very well with!)

Dominic loved all of his presents but his favorites have been the Diego play house (thank you Jorja!) and the Handy Manny truck and work set. (thanks Gee and Papa!) Occasionally, Godzilla or the Gargoyles have been breathing fire on Diego's house, I'm not sure why. (three guesses who gave him those) Our present to Dominic was a Cars bike which we haven't had a chance to take out yet but which Samantha thinks she can ride!

Dominic is 3!

To my baby on his 3rd birthday,

Three years old? How can that possibly have happened? I've loved every minute of being your mom and I'm so proud of you. You are so caring of others and are wonderful with Samantha. Your perception and empathy are your best features and they will serve you well in life.

I love you babe!

Happy Birthday,

Love,
Mommy

When you're bigger

We were in the potty the other day and Dominic told me that I could go potty standing. I said, No mommy can't do that. He said "It's hard to do. Maybe when you're bigger you can." LOL! I love the things he says!

Sometimes...

Sometimes I forget that Dominic is only two, soon to be three this coming week. He is so big and speaks to us so well. He's so creative and has started making up his own lyrics to songs and he is so perceptive that sometimes I forget that he is only two. In fact the other day Daddy was injured at work. Dominic asked what happened and I told him that daddy got a boo boo at work but he went to the doctor and he's ok. Dominic asked me if a shark ate his hand. I said no he just banged it. "With a hammer? My hammer?" I said no, nothing like that he just hit it on something. He looked at me very seriously and asked me "What?" I didn't want to tell him that it was on a person, I don't want Dominic to stress out but I'm thinking who knew it would be this hard to gloss something over to an almost three year old?! He doesn't miss a thing!

Getting Pumpkins

Dominic was very excited about getting pumpkins this year. He had a great time picking them out and now we have three giant pumpkins to carve as well as some little ones for decoration. Holidays are so much more fun with little kids!

Bronx Zoo

I was so glad that Daddy and the kids were able to come with me to my conference in White Plains. I don't think I would have gone if they couldn 't come. Well, on the last day we went to the Bronx Zoo. It was great! It was a huge zoo and we missed some things but the kids loved it. Dominic especially wanted to see the giraffe's and really enjoyed all of the animals. They both love the sea lions and feeding fries to the peacocks.