HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIO!!!!

So, I know I've been horrible at keeping this thing updated, and I promise to do some back-blogging soon, but today was just too important to forget: Gio turned FOUR!!! I can't believe my sweet boy is four. He had a party week and a half ago with his BFF, Spencer, who turned four on the 9th. The theme was Nemo and it was tons of fun. The kids made cute Nemo bags to collect candy from the Nemo pinata, played a ping-pong toss game and enjoyed Nemo jello cups. Personally, my favorite part of the Nemo party was the water balloons and how all the 3 & 4 years olds chose to lean into the big box, grab a water balloon, turn around and throw it right into the ground. In addition to many of our friends from church, Gio's best girl friend from Tot Lot also attended. He was thrilled!





Today, my mom & I took Gio & Vinnie to Disneyland to celebrate on his actual birthday. Gio chose to wear his Woody costume. Since we have annual passes, Gio got a gift card in the amount of a one day, one park pass. No surprise, he chose a Disney Railroad Train Set. He's been wanting one of those FOREVER. He was so excited he really just wanted to buy the set and go right home. We talked him into riding a few rides (his choice): "Buzz" (Astroblasters); "Xbox" (Star Tours); and "That Train" (Monorail). Unfortunately, Gio went to bed with a fever and did not get a chance to put together his new toy, but I'm sure he'll ask for it first thing in the morning.

Toddler Language

While eating his Mickey Mouse pancake this morning, Giovanni informed me that he wanted to wear his "Charlie Brown shirt and smaller pants." It took me a minute, but when I returned from digging through his dresser with his Charlie Brown shirt from Halloween and khaki shorts, he happily exclaimed, "Yeah!"

Many Happy Returns

Hooray! Thanks to a generous donation from Ryan's mom (thanks Robyn!), I've renewed my Disneyland Annual Pass & Gio finally has his very own!

My mom also renewed with us (Yay! Thanks, Mom, for joining us!). :)It's great to be back. Vinnie was ecstatic, as you can tell from his picture, and ate up every moment. HA HA.


Gio was delighted to see Minnie Mouse on Main Street and even rode his first big boy ride: Star Tours (he calls it Xbox).

Funny Guy....

Typically, Gio begins our nightly prayers and insists I repeat after him. But, somehow, I end up taking the lead, usually after Gio expresses his gratitude for Legos and blesses the whole gang from Spongebob Squarepants. I could not contain my laughter this evening when I attempted to guide him with, "Please bless us with good dreams," and he responded, "And.....Giovanni's not going to say it."

Tot Wot Diary

It has been brought to my attention that Gio has become quite the ladies man at Tot Lot. Mrs. Jeanette Tot Lot reported that last Friday a little girl had an accident and had to wait on the benches for her mommy to bring her dry clothes. Tender-hearted Gio sat next to this sweet girl and held her hand, with a very concerned expression on his face. Amother girl had dressed as Princess Jasmin for Halloween. Aladdin being one of Gio's favorite movies, it was not surprising that he all but stalked this poor girl for months and verbally expressed that she was his main motivation for his Tot Lot attendance. Alas, he has shifted his eyes to the one whose hand he held most recently and now proclaims that it is she whose affections he seeks. Over the weekend, he asked for her several times, claiming she is his sister. Both yesterday and this morning he asked for her before even leaving the house, expressing his hopes that she would be at Tot Lot. Thankfully, she admires him as well.

The Mind of My Gio...

I think it might be time to get Gio's hearing (and possibly vision)checked again. During the closing hymn this past Sunday, the Bishop walked past us in the chapel to greet people by the door. Gio asked, "He's my Papa?" "No," I told him, "he's your bishop." With a puzzled expression, Gio loudly questioned, "He's my spaceship???"

Twins?

I didn't think so at first but every day I am more and more convinced that I've given birth to Gio's twin. Vinnie is such a doll and reminds me SO much of Gio at this age. The only difference I can see is that Gio's always had orange hair while Vinnie's red is more rust-colored. That's Gio on the left and Vinnie's on the right.