The cutest things in life...

Are by far our kids! (ok that's my opinion...and probably their grandparents opinion) But the other day we were home and Matthew started making this funny sound while sitting in his high chair.  We have this decoration on our table that has round glass beads in it.  He kept saying: (oh hell i can't type the word...but it was just wicked funny) but he thought the bead was an M&M - David and I were looking at each other with much confusion and kept saying What Matthew?  Then I put 2+2 together and realized it was his way of saying M&M. - but it has like 10 syllables!

Then David took Ari to the "stoooooooooooor" the other day (as she calls it) and she came home and the 1st thing she did was run up and tell Matthew she had an M&M - way to be secretive little girl!

They are so funny and crack us up on a daily basis.  They really have developed little personalities!  Matthew is more lovey dovey than Ari.  He will give you a kiss when you ask for it and sometimes he even plays games of "hard to get" - but in the end all he really wants is a kiss and hug before we leave for work each day.  He is also Mr. Inquisitive!  He's into EVERYTHING!  He needs to touch everything, see what things are, he gets into lots of mischief, and really likes to see how far he can push the limit!  The other day David and I were sitting on the couch and Matthew was next to us.  He piled up all the pillows on the floor and stood on the couch.  Next thing I know he starts counting 1...2..and I said Don't you dare!  He then sat down.  2 seconds later..1...2..David then said Matthew No!  1...2...Matthew do you want to go in the corner..."NO" then sit on your bum and do not jump off the couch!  David and I both turned our heads and he yelled 3 and jumped!  What a little SH%T!  Needless to say he went in the corner for a time out!

Ari on the other hand is our DRAMA queen!  She is attached to me (but only when it is convenient for her) or when Matthew is wanting my attention.  She cries over everything and has a temper like you would not believe!  But...she is so sweet and smart!  She's our little princess and every time she puts on a dress or skirt, she spins around and says: Mama I'm a princess!  She says the same thing when I come down wearing a skirt for work - so all I need is my tiara and I'll be on my way out the door!  She is very smart!  She counts to 10 and knows what it means too.  She'll play with her refrigerator magnets and take them off 1 by 1 and count to 10 as she's doing it!  She also loves to dance and sing!  She sings Twinkle Twinkle and the Itsy Bitsy Spider usually while spinning in a circle. 

Overall - David and I are very blessed!  Minus a tantrum here or there - both kids are very good nature!

I had to give a more in depth blog post as the past few months have been so busy and I've slacked a bit.  Hopefully now that the year 2010 is coming to a close - 2011 will be filled with more exciting posts from the Manzello Family!

I hope everyone has a nice relaxing holiday!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!  We've been busy decorating for Xmas, shopping, baking, etc.  The kids are excited for Santa - but I don't know if they understand just yet!  I can't wait to see their faces on Christmas morning when they wake up and see all the gifts from Santa!

Ari and Matthew helped me make cookies last weekend - they had a lot of fun with the rolling pin and the flour - but especially loved eating the cookies once they were done!

Something better will come along...

Sad news on the house...we didn't end up getting it!  At the last minute the underwriter denied the loan and well we tried like heck to make it work - but it wasn't good enough!  That just means something better is in our future!

Instead - David and I unpacked all of our boxes - put all our stuff away - got a Xmas tree and decorated the house!  I guess we'll have at least 1 more year in our Condo!

Trip to see Santa

This weekend Grammie and Grampa took the kids so Daddy and I could get more packing done!  We managed to pack up the attic, Dominic's room and a few other odds and ends.  While staying with Grammie, she and Grampa took the kids to see Santa.  She said they weren't too sure about Santa for the first picture, but then they had Grammie and Grampa get in the photo:

Packing is going...I'm tired of it!!!  We are moving 12/3!! Not soon enough!

Happy Halloween!!

We took the kids out trick or treating last night and was it a HOOT!  The kids were dressed as Peter Pan and Tinkerbell and they had so much fun!  Matthew went running up to everyone's house saying trick treat trick treat - and he even tried to get into a few houses in the process!  Ari was very polite and after she got her candy as we were walking down the driveway she'd yell Happy Haween - thank you!  At one point Matthew went bolting down someone's driveway dragging his pail behind him!

busy busy busy little bees

Life has been totally crazy these last few weeks!  We've had stuff going on every weekend, and my job has kept me insanely busy the last 2 weeks.  We had our 1st open house on Saturday and it was the smoothest open house I feel we've ever had!  This weekend we also celebrated Dominic's 10th birthday!  He turned 10 on 10/10/10!  Can't say that happens too often!

A few updates on the kiddos!  Matthew has been so much fun!  He's so happy all the time and he's my little ham for the camera!  Every time the camera comes out he looks at me and says...CHEESE!!!  He's learning new words every day and the one thing that we are amazed at is his throwing arm!  He has this side arm throw and he can pitch a ball SO hard and fast...we're thinking about signing him up for the Sox training camp in April...he may be able to pitch better than Papplebon at this point!  Matthew seems to be in the shadows of his sister - and only because she a drama queen!  Matthew is so easy going and he lets her have her way...but when she bites him...he comes running to me and says...Mama...Ari Bite!

Arianna...well...she can be the devil's spawn! Her attitude already and the temper tantrums...OMG!  When she doesn't get her way she throws herself on the floor and cries.  Or she'll run and bite Matthew!  She is VERY jealous of Matthew.  The second Matthew has something...she wants it.  The second Matthew is sitting on David or my lap - she wants to be there.  We think she has more teeth coming in which is why she is constantly chewing on her finger and biting things...it's her way of getting out her frustration!

Next weekend we are going to the Halloween parade in Norton and I'm getting the kids photos taken.  They'll be done in mom's backyard.  I figured it's a great place for them to just run around and play in the leaves - and we'll be able to head to the parade on time!!  Let's just hope the weather cooperates!  On the 30th I have my 2nd open house at the college - and then the 31st is the Halloween parade in Leominster and trick - or -treating!  Ari is going to be Tinkerbell and Matthew is going to be Peter Pan.  I only have his hat left to get...other than that his costume is done!

Enjoy the photos!

Mom & Dad's get-a-way

David and I just got back from a little mini vacation in Vegas!  My cousin Joel got married - so we were able to fly out and stay out there for a few days.  We stayed at Planet Hollywood and had a blast!  The weekend prior to that we had Dave & Tammy's wedding in Kennebunkport, ME - so once again we weren't with the kids for the weekend...I was having major withdrawals!

It was great for us to get away - but we missed the kids like crazy!  They had fun with Mummu and Papa while we were in Maine - they got to go pumpkin picking and went on a hay ride.  When they were with Grammie and Grampa it rained every day except Sat & Sun!  Mom did arts and crafts with them and then when the weather got nicer they went to the park and they went to a Harvest fair.

We all survived - the kids had fun - and we had a blast as well!

18 month check up

On Friday, the kids had their 18 month check up.  Matthew is 23lbs9oz and Arianna is 24lbs7oz.  They are both 3 feet tall and the doctor is highly impressed with the things they are doing!

Each day they have new words, phrases, and things they are doing!  Arianna knows the names of all of our neighbors (and their pets) - and Matthew is a constant chatter box!  He says a lot of words too - but you can understand Ari more.

On Saturday, Grammie and I took the kids to the Sterling fair.  The kids ate their 1st hot dog. We walked around for a few hours and then took the kids for ice cream.  David was gone most of the weekend at a Bachelor party.






























On Sunday, we headed up to Kennebunkport, ME with Mummu and Papa for Joyce's Aunt's 100th birthday party.  The kids had a lot of fun running around the hotel and I was able to get some really cute photos of them.  Ari loved all the flowers at the hotel - she had to stop and smell every one!

We have a name...

Meet Cocoa!  Matthew woke up from his nap yesterday and just started calling the bunny "Cocoa" - so I looked at her and said...well she can pass for coconut...and she does look like hot cocoa...and she is coffee colored...Cocoa is is!  She seems very happy - but the kids are so loud and we're afraid they are going to kill the bunny! She does love to snuggle though!  We're working on litter box training her so she can be an indoor bunny...

Our New Pet...

Here is a few photos of our new pet...Name still under consideration! I think she looks like a S'more - but David doesn't' like that - so I'm thinking we may go with Cotton...since we live on South Cotton St. :)  David made her a nice bunny cage too!

18 months old

Hard to believe in 6 months the kids will be 2!  They are learning new things every day and talking up a storm!  Ari even said "love you mommy" the other day!  On Friday they go for their 18 month apt. so we shall see how big they really are!  Here are some pictures:

School Starts Today!

Fitchburg State University's move in is today - which means my life is changing again for the fall!  Starting this week we went back to the normal routine of Monday, Tuesday & Thursday the kids being with Joyce and Mike and Wednesday & Friday the kids are with Becky.  They had a great summer spending time with Lynn, but she's headed back to school next week!

Starting Sept. 13th - I will be on the road 4x a week up until November 4th.  Some mornings I have to leave my house by 6am and I won't be returning home until 10pm just to do it again the next day.  I tried to set my recruiting schedule so I wasn't leaving to early - and I tried to hit my last school by 2pm so I would be home early as well.  So even though it has its downs - it has many pluses too!  This fall is a little different because I am doing 4-5 schools in a day, doing schools before and after transfer fairs, so we'll see how that goes.  I did it that way because not only with my travel responsibility - I have a huge responsibility in the office.  I oversee 60 student employees, as well as plan all events and it is hard to do that on the road - so I tried to make my schedule so I'd be done with the majority of my travel sooner than everyone else.

If it were a perfect world, I'd be done with travel by mid-October - but I have a week off due to 2 back to back weddings, which I'm so excited about!  The first one is Sept 25th - and we have to head to Kennebunkport Maine on Friday.  David is in his friend Dave Haschig's wedding - so we have all of the fun activities up in Maine Friday-Sunday.  Then the following week, I'm traveling Monday & Tuesday, and will be in the office on Wednesday for a 1/2 day.  Wednesday evening we're bringing the kids to Grammie's house where they will be until Monday morning.  David, Brian, Eric and I are headed out to Vegas to meet up with Dad, Heidi and the rest of the Jacob's clan for Joel & Megan's wedding!  David and I are excited - we haven't had any time away (with out kids) since the last time we went to Vegas (2005) - so we plan to do a lot of relaxing in between the wedding festivities!  It's going to be hard to be away from the kids for 5 days - but that's what they invented SKYPE for :-)

Here's hoping everyone has a great fall - I'll try to post updates as much as I can!

new videos

Here are a few videos I figured out how to upload 

Mommy...Mommy...MOMMY...MOMMY!!!

Well - it's inevitable - both kids love their mommy!  The second I walk in the house or come into the room the kids are attached to my hip!  Both of them just keep yelling Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy and they scream and cry when I leave the room!

It's so great to be loved...but I think I'm changing my name to Matilda!

Our Chatty Cathy!

Matthew has been talking non-stop for the past week!  He speaks gibberish from sun rise to sun set!  I sure hope he knows what he's saying because the rest of us have no idea!

Wednesday Funday: Davis Farmland

Today was our last "funday" of the summer! (boo hoo!)  I'm done with my Wednesday's off and Marci, Lisa and Elissa are headed back to school.  It's sad - but we had a GREAT summer filled with activities each week!

Today we went to Davis Farmland in Sterling.  The kids had a blast running around with the animals.  They were able to feed them, pet them and even hold them.  Joyce came with me and was a huge help!!  This place is really kid friendly - and very safe!  Adults must be accompanied by someone 12 and younger in order to get in!  They also give you wrist bands for everyone in your party and they have a matching number.  When you are leaving the park, they verify that you have the same number as your kid.  It's GREAT!

We started off with the goats.  Ari and Matthew enjoyed feeding the goats - but they were getting hungry and tried eating the goat food as well!  We walked around and saw the baby cows, sheep and chickens - They have places for face painting, little playgrounds and places you can milk "pretend" cows. After a little while, we headed off to eat lunch.

After lunch, we took the kids on the pony rides.  Matthew enjoyed it, but Ari only made it 1 lap around.  She wasn't too thrilled with her horse!  After the pony rides we went on a hay ride.  They take you all around the farm and tell you about the animals who are in the pasture.































































































After the hay ride, we took the kids in the water splash park they have.  They LOVED it!  Matthew ran through all of the sprinklers and Ari drank all of the water!  We played in there for about an hour.



  

Once we had enough - we packed the kids in the car and went to Rota Springs Farm, which is located down the street and had some homemade ice cream for dessert

What a GREAT ending to a GREAT summer with GREAT friends!